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  ANNEX 4 : CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC  
  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
 
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  CONTENTS  
1   ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT  ................................ ................................ .......................  299  
1.1   Main features  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  299 
1.2   Recent economic trends ................................ ................................ ..............................  300 
1.3   Developments in trade and investment  ................................ ................................ ........  303 
1.3.1   Trade in goods and services  ................................ ................................ .....................  303 
1.3.2   Foreign investment  ................................ ................................ ................................ . 306 
2   TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES ................................ ................................ ..........  307  
2.1   Overview  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  307 
2.2   Trade policy formulation and objectives ................................ ................................ ........  309 
2.3   Trade agreements and arrangements  ................................ ................................ ...........  310 
2.3.1   World Trade Organization ................................ ................................ .........................  311 
2.3.2   Other agreements and arrangements  ................................ ................................ ........  311 
2.4   Investment regime ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 311 
2.4.1   The Investment Charter  ................................ ................................ ...........................  311 
2.4.2   Setting up a business in the Central African Republic  ................................ ..................  312 
2.4.3   Other measures affecting investment  ................................ ................................ ........  314 
3   TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  ................................ ......................  316  
3.1   Measures directly affecting imports  ................................ ................................ ..............  316 
3.1.1   Customs procedures  ................................ ................................ ................................  316 
3.1.1.1    Transit and pre -clearance of goods in countries where ports are located .....................  316 
3.1.1.2    Registration of traders and customs brokers ................................ ............................  317 
3.1.1.3    Procedure s and documentation  ................................ ................................ ..............  317 
3.1.2   Customs valuation and preshipment inspection  ................................ ..........................  320 
3.1.3   Rules of origin  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  321 
3.1.4   Customs levies ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  321 
3.1.4.1    Customs duties  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 321 
3.1.4.2    Other duties and charges  ................................ ................................ ......................  321 
3.1.4.3    Bindings  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  321 
3.1.5   Internal taxes  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  322 
3.1.5.1    Value added tax  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 322 
3.1.5.2    Excise taxes ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  322 
3.1.5.3    Advance payment on income or corporation tax ................................ .......................  323 
3.1.6   Tariff preferences  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 323 
3.1.7   Duty and tax concessions ................................ ................................ .........................  323 
3.1.8   Prohibitions, quantitative restrictions and licensing  ................................ .....................  323 
3.1.9   Contingency measures ................................ ................................ .............................  324 
3.2   Measures directly affecting exports  ................................ ................................ ..............  325 
3.2.1   Registration and customs procedures  ................................ ................................ ........  325 
3.2.2   Export taxes and duties  ................................ ................................ ...........................  325 WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
 
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  3.2.3   Export prohibitions and controls ................................ ................................ ................  326 
3.2.4   Export subsidies and promotion  ................................ ................................ ................  326 
3.3   Measures affecting production and trade  ................................ ................................ ...... 326 
3.3.1   Standards, technical regulations and accreditation  ................................ ......................  326 
3.3.2   Sanitary and phytosanitary measures ................................ ................................ ........  327 
3.3.3   Incentives  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  328 
3.3.4   Competition and price control regime  ................................ ................................ ........  328 
3.3.5   State trading, state -owned enterprises and privatization  ................................ .............  329 
3.3.6   Government procurement  ................................ ................................ ........................  329 
3.3.7   Protection of intellectua l property rights  ................................ ................................ .... 330 
4   TRADE POLICY BY SECTOR  ................................ ................................ .......................  331  
4.1   Agriculture, livestock farming, forestry and fisheries  ................................ ......................  331 
4.1.1   Overview ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  331 
4.1.2   Market access, domestic support and export measures  ................................ ...............  332 
4.1.3   Policy in major agricultural subsectors  ................................ ................................ ....... 333 
4.1.3.1    Coffe e ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  333 
4.1.3.2    Cotton ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  334 
4.1.3.3    Sugar ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  334 
4.1.3.4    Edible and sesame oils  ................................ ................................ ..........................  335 
4.1.4   Livestock products  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 335 
4.1.4.1    General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  335 
4.1.4.2    Trade regulation ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 336 
4.1.4.3    Livestock by -products  ................................ ................................ ...........................  336 
4.1.5   Fisheries and aquaculture  ................................ ................................ ........................  337 
4.1.6   Forestry products  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 337 
4.1.6.1    Overview  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  337 
4.1.6.2    Market regulation  ................................ ................................ ................................ . 338 
4.1.6.3    Taxes on production and exports  ................................ ................................ ...........  338 
4.2   Mining and energy  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 340 
4.2.1   Mining products  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 340 
4.2.1.1    Overview  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  340 
4.2.1.2    Measures affecting production  ................................ ................................ ...............  341 
4.2.1.3    Measures affecting exports  ................................ ................................ ....................  341 
4.2.2   Energy  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  342 
4.2.2.1    Petroleum products  ................................ ................................ ..............................  342 
4.2.2.2    Electricity  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  343 
4.3   Manufacturing  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  344 
4.4   Services ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  345 
4.4.1   Transport services ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 345 
4.4.1.1    Air transport  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  346 WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
 
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  4.4.1.2    Road transport  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 347 
4.4.1.3    River transport ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 347 
4.4.2   Telecommunications services ................................ ................................ ....................  348 
4.4.2.1    Market overview ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 348 
4.4.2.2    Market access and regulation ................................ ................................ .................  349 
4.4.2.3    Price controls  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 350 
4.4.3   Postal services  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  350 
4.4.4   Financial services  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 350 
4.4.4.1    Banking services  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 350 
4.4.4.2    Insurance services ................................ ................................ ................................  352 
4.4.5   Tourism  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  352 
5   APPENDIX TABLES ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 354  
 
CHARTS  
 
Chart 1.1 Patterns in merchandise trade, 2012 and 2021 ................................ .......................  304 
Chart 1.2 Direction of merchandise trade, 2012 and 2021 ................................ ......................  305 
Chart 4.1 Diamond exp orts................................ ................................ ................................ . 340 
 
TABLES  
 
Table 1.1 Basic economic indicators, 2012 -2021 ................................ ................................ ... 300 
Table 1.2 Balance of payments, 2012 -21 ................................ ................................ .............  306 
Table 2.1 Principal new trade -related laws and regulations, March  2013-2020..........................  308 
Table 2.2 Formalities and fees associated with business start -ups................................ ...........  313 
Table 3.1 Documentation required for imports, 2019  ................................ .............................  318 
Table 3.2 Other duties and charges on imports, 2020  ................................ ............................  321 
Table 3.3 VAT -exempt staples ................................ ................................ .............................  322 
Table 3.4 Additional excise taxes levied in CAR, 2020  ................................ ............................  323 
Table 3.5 Import controls and restrictions, 2020  ................................ ................................ ... 324 
Table 3.6 Export taxes and duties  ................................ ................................ .......................  325 
Table 3.7 Principal laboratories and types of analysis conducted, 202 0 ................................ .... 327 
Table 3.8 Methods of awarding public contracts in the Central African Republic, 
in accordan ce with the thresholds specified in the 2009 Budget Law  ................................ ....... 329 
Table 3.9 Number of applications, by year and type of title, filed with the SNL of CAR, 
2010 -20 ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........................  330 
Table 4.1 Main agricultural products, 2012 -21 ................................ ................................ ...... 331 
Table 4.2 Estimated agricultural revival costs, 2016 -18 ................................ .........................  333 
Table 4.3 Key telecommunications indicators, 2020 ................................ ...............................  348 
Table 4.4 Average prices of different telecommunications services, 2021 ................................ . 348 
Table 4.5 Key indicators for the CAR banking sector, 2021 ................................ .....................  351 
Table 4.6 Main economic indicators of the CAR tourism sector, 2014 -21 ................................ .. 352 WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
 
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APPENDIX TABLES  
 
Table A1.1 Structure of exports, 2012 -21................................ ................................ .............  354 
Table A1.2 Destination of exports, 2012 -21................................ ................................ ..........  355 
Table A1.3 Origin of imports, 2012 -21 ................................ ................................ .................  356 
Table A1.4 Structure of imports, 2012 -21 ................................ ................................ ............  357 
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  1  ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT  
1.1  Main features  
1.1.  The Central African Republic (CAR) covers an area of 623,000  km2, with rich and varied fauna 
and flora  owing to its climatic diversity, a vast dense and humid rainforest in the south and a 
pseudo -steppe in the north. It also has a dense hydrographic network, extensive forest and mining 
resources and considerable agricultural potential. Its land or river bo rders (Oubangui river) are 
shared with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the south (1,577 km), North and South  
Sudan to the east, Chad to the north (1,197  km), Cameroon to the west (797  km), and the Republic 
of the Congo to the south -west (467  km). 
1.2.  The country has a population of around 5  million, with an average annual growth rate that rose 
from 0.3 % in 2013 to 1.9 % in 2021.1 Almost half the population is under 18 years of age, with very 
low levels of education. The illiteracy rate among 15 -24-year-olds was 36 % (2021 figures), with 
rates of 64 % and 76 %, respectively, among urban dwellers and young people from the most affluent 
population groups.2 Ongoing insecurity is undoubtedly the biggest obstacle to poverty reduction, as 
each new violent confrontation between armed groups causes further displacement, destroys private 
and public property, and complicates peace and reconstruction efforts. As a result, CAR is one of the 
lowest income countries according to the World Bank, and is ranke d as one of the countries with the 
lowest scores in the world according to the UNDP Human Development Index (ranked 188th out of 
189 countries assessed in 2020). In 2020, 71.4 % of its population lived below the poverty line 
(less than USD  1.90 per day in p urchasing power parity), compared to 80.8 % in 1983.3 
1.3.  Life expectancy was 54 years in 2020, and real per capita income is estimated by the 
United  Nations at USD  511.5 per year in current terms, well below its 2010 level.4 Food insecurity 
remains a major c oncern, with 2.2  million people (36 % of the population) in CAR in this situation, 
most of them living in areas where conflict has adversely affected cropland and hindered access to 
markets and fields. In 2022, the United Nations allocated USD  15 million fr om its Central Emergency 
Response Fund (CERF) to step up emergency aid for 200,000 people in the 10 worst -affected 
sub-prefectures.5 
1.4.  CAR's economic potential lies primarily in the agricultural sector (including livestock rearing, 
hunting, fishing and fore stry), which is increasingly vulnerable to climate hazards.6 In addition, 
political instability over recent decades and the COVID -19 crisis have led to lower GDP growth. The 
2013 civil war also had an impact on the sectoral composition of GDP: the share o f agriculture 
(including forestry and fishing) fell from 39 % in 2012 to 33.5 % in 2021 (Table 1.1). Instability is 
preventing farmers from tending their fields, weakening food security and hampering agricultural 
activities. The mining sector's contribution to GDP was around 13 %, and collapsed as a result of the 
embargo on diamond exports. The services sector, on the other hand, progressed positively between 
2012 and 2021 despite the conflicts (Table 1.1). CAR's main exports are timber7, gold, diamonds, 
cocoa, coffee and cotton. Exports of non -factor goods and services represented 16.9 % of GDP 
in 2021 (Table 1.1).  
1.5.  Difficulties of access to finance are a major obstacle to business development, especially for 
small and medium -sized enterprises (SMEs). Local ban ks do not offer enough credit facilities, 
especially to SMEs, which are perceived as representing a higher risk factor, generally due to a lack 
of guarantees. As a result, many banks end up lending to a handful of large, high -quality companies 
 
1 Viewed at: https://donnees.banquemondiale.org/pays/republique -centrafricaine . 
2 UNICEF, Fact Sheet on the Central African Republic – 2021. Viewed at: Central -African -Republic -MICS-
EAGLE -Factsheets_French_02122021.pdf . 
3 Viewed at: https://www.banquemondiale.org/fr/country/centralafricanrepublic/overview . 
4 Online information from UNDP. Viewed at: http://hdr.undp.org/sites/all/themes/hdr_theme/country -
notes/CAF.pdf . 
5 Viewed at: https://news.un.org/fr/st ory/2022/07/1124022 . 
6 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCC, 2015). Viewed at: 
https://www4.unfccc.int/sites/ndcstaging/PublishedDocuments/Central%20African%20Republic%20First/CPDN
_R%C3%A9publique%20Centrafricaine.pdf . 
7 Data from the World Bank, Country Economic Memorandum – Central Afr ican Republic: From Fragility 
to Accelerated and Inclusive Growth , 2022. Viewed at: 
https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/0999500 05022233200/pdf/P1749960827ced0720aa8f080829ca
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  or to the St ate through treasury bills and bonds.8 In particular, despite the importance of agriculture 
to its development, CAR has no agricultural credit system or legal framework governing the overall 
operation of credit to the agricultural sector. Financing of the  budget deficit through monetarization 
ended in July  2018.9 
1.6.  CAR is a member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), whose 
six members have harmonized several elements of their macroeconomic policies, including 
monetary, customs and  financial services, and have a common currency, the franc of Financial 
Cooperation in Central Africa ( Common Report).  
1.2  Recent economic trends  
1.7.  The civil war in 2013 led to the almost total destruction of production tools and resources, the 
theft and looting of means of transport, and the disruption of economic structures.10 This was 
followed by a sharp deterioration in the economic situation, with a fall in real GDP from 5.1 % in 
2012 to 1.1 % in 2021, and a slight decrease in inflation from 5.5 % in 201 2 to 4.3 % in 2021 
(Table  1.1). The conflicts led the Kimberley Process to impose an embargo on Central African 
diamond exports because of their exploitation by armed groups, but exports subsequently resumed. 
However, the Government's suspension of gold and  diamond exports at the start of the pandemic 
created a liquidity crisis in the sector, and many collectors were unable to resume their activities .11 
Diamond exports fell between 2012 and 2022 (Chart  1.1). 
1.8.  Since July  2016, tax reforms have been implemented  with the assistance of the International 
Monetary Fund (IMF) under its Extended Credit Facility (ECF).12 In December  2021, the authorities 
committed to an IMF Staff Monitored Programme (SMP) supported by the ECF. The programme, 
approved in December  2019 f or an initial period of seven months until June  2022, should enable the 
country to improve its performance in implementing public finance and governance policies, and to 
benefit from donor budget support. At the authorities' request, and in view of the pro gress made in 
its implementation – most of the quantitative and structural objectives having been achieved by the 
end of March – the SMP was extended by three months to the end of September  2022, to enable 
CAR to obtain funding pledges from development par tners and harmonize its April  2022 law on 
cryptocurrency -related transactions with regional commitments at the CEMAC level.  
Table 1.1 Basic economic indicators, 2012 -2021 
 
2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Miscellaneous            
GDP at current market 
prices (CFAF  billion)  1 281.6  835.5  935.6  1 002.6  1 081.5  1 203.3  1 233.6  1 316.2  1 332.3  1 383.5  
GDP at current market 
prices (USD  billion)  2.5 1.7 1.9 1.7 1.8 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.5 
Real GDP growth rate 
(%, at 2005 prices)  5.1 -36.4 0.1 4.3 4.8 4.5 3.8 2.8 0.6 1.1 
Population (million)  4.9 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.8 5.9 6.1 
GDP per capita (USD)  516.6  339.4  371.0  323.9  340.0  376.6  394.0  388.7  391.3  411.1  
Inflation (retail price, 
African model – annual 
average, based on the 
BEAC)  5.9 4.0 17.8 2.0 2.7 4.2 1.7 2.8 1.6 4.3 
Inflation (CPI, % change, 
based on the IMF)  5.5 7.0 14.9 1.4 4.9 4.2 1.6 2.7 1.7 4.3 
National accounts at current prices (% of GDP)  
Consumption  99.1 100.9  97.8 97.2 98.4 97.0 102.2  102.5  91.5 89.3 
Public  10.9 17.4 15.5 14.8 14.4 14.1 14.2 15.5 16.9 19.1 
Private  88.2 83.6 82.2 82.4 84.0 83.0 88.0 87.1 74.6 70.2 
 
8 Viewed at: https://www.eib.org/attachments/efs/economic_report_banking_africa_2018_fr.pdf . 
9 Monetary Policy Committee, meeting of 25 July 2 018, press release. Viewed at: 
https://www.finances.gouv.cg/sites/default/files/documents/COMMUNIQUE_DE_PRESSE_CPM_DU_250718.pdf . 
10 Security Council (2017), "Letter dated 6 December 2017 from the Panel of Experts on the  
Central African Republic extended pursuant to resolution 2339 (2017) addressed to the President of the 
Security Council". Viewed at: https://undocs.org/pdf?symbol=fr/S/2017/639 . 
11 COFACE. Viewed at: Républiq ue centrafricaine / Etudes économiques - Coface . 
12 Viewed at: https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2019/07/09/Central -African -Republic -
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2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Gross investment  10.8 7.5 22.0 21.8 22.5 25.6 25.9 22.4 27.3 29.3 
Gross fixed capital 
formation  10.8 6.3 21.2 20.6 20.9 24.2 25.0 22.4 27.3 29.3 
Public  5.6 4.0 14.2 16.9 15.2 19.0 19.6 16.5 21.4 23.3 
Private  5.2 2.3 7.0 3.7 5.7 5.2 5.4 5.9 5.9 6.0 
Changes in 
inventories  0.1 1.2 0.8 1.2 1.6 1.4 0.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Net exports  -10.0 -8.5 -19.7 -19.0 -20.9 -22.6 -28.1 -25.0 -18.8 -18.6 
Exports of non -factor 
goods and services  11.6 15.0 16.7 17.1 14.8 17.3 18.9 22.5 18.4 16.9 
Imports of non -factor 
goods and services  -21.5 -23.4 -36.4 -36.1 -35.7 -39.9 -47.0 -47.5 -37.2 -35.6 
Sectoral distribution (% of nominal GDP at factor cost)  
Agriculture, forestry and 
fishing  39.0 33.6 35.7 32.9 33.5 34.4 33.3 32.9 33.5 33.5 
Agriculture  26.9 22.6 20.7 18.3 17.9 18.4 17.8 16.4 16.7 16.8 
Subsistence farming  20.3 15.9 13.5 12.2 12.3 13.3 12.2 12.4 13.0 13.7 
Other  6.6 6.7 7.1 6.1 5.6 5.1 5.5 4.0 3.7 3.1 
Livestock rearing  6.6 5.0 8.8 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.2 8.6 8.8 9.0 
Hunting and fishing  4.1 4.1 5.8 5.2 5.5 5.6 5.4 5.2 5.2 5.3 
Forestry and logging  1.4 1.9 0.4 1.8 2.6 2.9 2.9 2.7 2.7 2.4 
Mining and quarrying  2.1 0.9 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.6 0.8 1.7 
Manufacturing  25.1 21.9 18.3 20.6 20.4 19.3 19.3 19.5 17.8 17.6 
Energy (water, electricity)  0.4 0.8 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 
Construction  1.5 1.5 1.0 1.5 1.4 1.6 1.8 1.6 1.9 2.0 
Services  31.9 41.3 43.9 44.0 43.8 43.9 4.8 44.9 45.5 44.5 
Transport and 
telecommunications  1.9 2.7 2.5 3.4 2.9 2.5 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.9 
Trade  11.5 10.1 13.4 14.1 14.3 15.0 14.9 14.6 13.8 13.7 
General government  8.7 13.2 11.5 10.7 10.4 10.4 10.5 11.4 13.9 12.8 
Other services  9.8 15.2 16.4 15.8 16.2 16.0 17.5 17.1 16.0 16.1 
Public finances (% of GDP)  
Total revenue  10.0 5.2 4.5 6.6 5.8 7.8 9.1 8.8 8.9 9.0 
Total expenditure  12.7 13.4 11.5 14.1 12.1 13.9 16.7 17.2 21.3 21.0 
Current expenditure  8.5 11.9 9.5 9.6 9.2 9.4 10.5 11.5 13.5 13.2 
Capital expenditure  4.2 1.5 1.9 4.5 2.9 4.5 6.2 5.7 7.8 7.8 
Primary budgetary  
balance (deficit -) 0.7 -6.2 -4.6 -2.8 -3.1 -2.0 -1.8 -3.6 -6.6 -5.9 
Primary budgetary  
balance (excluding 
interest)  -2.3 -7.6 -6.4 -7.0 -5.7 -5.8 -7.2 -8.0 -12.0 -11.6 
Primary budgetary  
balance (excluding 
interest and oil 
revenue)  -2.3 -7.6 -6.4 -7.0 -5.7 -5.8 -7.2 -8.0 -12.0 -11.6 
Budgetary  balance, 
commitments basis, 
excluding grants 
(deficit  -) -2.7 -8.2 -7.0 -7.5 -6.3 -6.1 -7.6 -8.3 -12.4 -11.9 
Budgetary  balance, 
commitments basis, 
including grants 
(deficit  -) 0.9 -5.7 2.1 0.5 -0.5 -1.1 0.4 1.4 -2.5 -6.9 
Basic budgetary  
balance (deficit -) 0.3 -6.8 -5.1 -3.3 -3.6 -2.4 -2.2 -3.9 -6.9 -6.3 
External sector (% of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)  
CFAF per USD (annual 
average)  510.6  493.9  493.8  591.2  592.6  580.7  555.4  585.9  575.6  554.5  
Real effective exchange 
rate (CPI, % change)a -1.0 7.9 13.9 -6.0 5.4 3.2 2.8 -0.6 2.1 2.2 
Current account 
balance (incl. transf., 
deficit -) -5.6 -2.9 -13.7 -8.0 -13.7 -12.0 -11.6 -6.8 -6.9 -10.0 
Outstanding external 
debt/GDP ratio  17.3 29.8 29.4 29.9 28.2 25.9 25.2 36.6 35.0 35.6 
Outstanding domestic 
debt/GDP ratio  .. .. 14.4 29.4 22.6 23.3 6.3 11.3 9.7 14.0 
Outstanding overall 
debt/GDP ratio  .. .. 43.7 59.3 50.8 49.2 31.6 47.9 44.7 49.6 WT/TPR/S/455 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
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2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
External reserves (in 
months of imports of 
goods and services)a 3.8 6.0 5.2 4.5 5.0 5.2 4.8 4.1 5.9 7.1 
FDI inflows (USD  million)  70.0 1.9 3.5 3.0 7.3 6.9 18.0 25.6 34.7 30.2 
% of GDP  2.8 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.3 0.8 1.1 1.5 1.2 
Inward FDI stock 
(USD  million)  617.6  619.4  622.9  626.0  633.3  640.1  658.1  683.7  718.5  748.6  
% of GDP  24.6 36.6 32.9 36.9 34.7 30.9 29.6 30.4 31.0 30.0 
.. Not available.  
a A minus sign indicates depreciation.  
Note:  The CFA franc used by all the CEMAC countries is pegged to the euro at a rate of EUR 1 = 
CFAF 655.96.  
Source:  Information provided by the authorities; the BEAC. Viewed at: 
https://www.beac.int/economie -stats/statistiques -economiques/ ; IMF, International Financial 
Statistics. Viewed at: https://elibrary.imf.org/ ; and UNCTADstat. Viewed at: 
http://unctadstat.unctad.org/EN/Index.html . 
1.9.  Thanks largely to t he BEAC's rigorous monetary policy ( Common Report), overall CAR has 
recorded moderate inflation during the period. Indeed, with the exception of 2014 when inflation 
reached 17.8 % due to the consequences of the military coup, it has generally been moderate,  with 
a downward trend. Moreover, international bank payments were particularly difficult in CAR in 2019, 
due to massive currency outflows, which forced the monetary authorities to take new measures to 
control capital movements. Financial transaction costs  in CAR are deemed to be higher than in the 
other member States.  
1.10.  Public finances have been severely impacted by the conflicts, in particular the cessation of 
official diamond exports ( Sections 1.3 and 4.2), resulting in a significant accumulation of arrears, 
which limits the State's ability to meet even its statutory obligations.13 The predominance of the 
informal sector means that the tax base is very limited. The basic budgetary  balance has consistently 
recorded a deficit, which rose  to more than 6 % in 2020 and 2021 (Table 1.1). A new three -year 
agreement under the Extended Credit Facility was approved on 27  April 2023.14 
1.11.  CAR's external situation has also been seriously affected, with a current account deficit that 
has largely remaine d above 10 % of GDP since 2014. Support from technical and financial partners 
(TFPs) was supposed to improve this situation as of 2019. In fact, the World Bank's portfolio in CAR 
alone has increased tenfold in three years and will provisionally reach USD on e billion in the fiscal 
year 2020. It is divided between four main sectors: (i) infrastructure and sustainable development, 
including transport, water and energy; (ii) the social sectors, including health and education; 
(iii) governance, including natural resources; and (iv) agriculture.15 One of the projects to be 
financed is, for example, LONDO+, which aims to provide temporary employment in labour -intensive 
public works for almost five  million person -days, including in the most remote areas.  
1.12.  Payment arrears (more than 2 % of GDP in 2018 according to the IMF) are a major problem 
for the Central African Republic's economy. These arrears consist largely of salaries and pensions 
owed by the State, including to small and medium -sized enterprises. Ar rears owed to countries such 
as India are also substantial; repayments are scheduled for a period of 20 years from 2023. With 
regard to domestic debt, the Central African Republic continues to repay commercial banks and has 
begun to pay interest on its con solidated debt to the BEAC.16 
 
13 Viewed at: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/738411564512831828/Country -Policy -and-
Institutional -Assessment -CPIA-Africa -2018-Strengthening -Debt-Management -Capacity ; and 
http://documents.banquemondiale.org/curated/fr/553221564513028077/pdf/Country -Policy -and-Institutional -
Assessment -CPIA-Africa -2018-Strengthening -Debt-Management -Capacity.pdf . 
14 Viewed at: https://www.imf.org/fr/News/Articles/2023/04/28/pr23129 -IMF-Executive -Board -
Approves -ECF-Arrangement -Central -African -Republic . 
15 Viewed at: http://documents.banquemondiale.org/curated/fr/747021564991212652/pdf/Atelier -de-
Formation -Sur-les-Politiques -et-Procedures -de-Sauvegardes -Environnementale -et-Sociale -de-La-Banque -
Mondiale -et-Nouveau -Cadre-Environnemental -et-Social.pdf . 
16 IMF (2019) , Communauté Economique et Monétaire de L'Afrique Centrale — Rapport des Services du 
FMI sur les Politiques Communes a l'appui des Programmes de Reforme des Pays Membres , IMF Report  
No. 19/215.  WT/TPR/S/455 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 303 - 
  1.3  Developments in trade and investment  
1.3.1   Trade in goods and services  
1.13.  Since the military coup, exports from the CAR have not really increased (Table A1.1 and 
Chart  1.1). The authorities have tried to revive other export products su ch as cotton, coffee and 
tobacco. The COVID -19 crisis has had a negative impact on these sectors, with the country losing 
almost its entire cotton and coffee industry due to a number of factors, including accumulated 
arrears; a lack of market access for pr oducers; limited access for farmers to seeds (particularly 
high-yielding seeds), fertilizers and pesticides; and insufficient quality of inputs and outputs. 
According to some sources, however, cotton production and exports could increase if the 
Government continues to clear the public arrears accumulated with producers .17 Since the last 
review, the United Arab Emirates has become the main market for Central African exports, followed 
by the European Union, Pakistan and the other CEMAC countries  (Chart  1.2). 
1.14.  Imports fell in 2013 following the military coup, before rising sharply as security conditions 
improved along the corridor to Cameroon (Table A1.4).  
 
 
17 COFACE. Viewed at: https://www.coface.com/fr/Etudes -economiques -et-risque -pays/Republique -
centrafricaine . WT/TPR/S/455 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 304 - 
  Chart 1.1 Patterns in merchandise trade, 2012 and 2021  
(%) 
 
 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on the International Trade Centre's Trade Map database 
(SITC  Rev.3).  
 
 
 
2012 2021
(a)    Exports (f.o.b.)
Manufactured 
products
18.7%Other 4.0%
Sorted 
industrial 
diamonds, 
whether or not 
worked
19.9%
Machinery and 
transport 
equipment
16.9%Gold 45.2%
Other 
manufactures
1.7%
Total: USD 114.2 million Total: USD 58.0 million
(b)    Imports (c.i.f.)
Agriculture  
31.6%Manufactured 
products
65.3%Non-electrical 
machinery
9.9%
Other
semi-finished 
products
9.0%Other 0.6%
Chemical 
products
12.4%Other manufactures 
9.3%Electrical 
machinery
10.0%Transport 
equipment
14.8%
Mining and 
quarrying 2.5%Agriculture  
21.8%Manufactured 
products
70.3%
Non-electrical 
machinery
5.1%
Other
semi-finished 
products
7.6%Other
0.8%
Chemical 
products
12.4%Other 
manufactures
20.5%
Electrical 
machinery
19.7%Transport 
equipment
4.9%
Mining and 
quarrying 7.1%
Total: USD 217.8 million Total: USD 486.7millionOther
11.2%
Sorted industrial 
diamonds, 
whether or not 
worked
57.0%Non-coniferous 
wood, in the 
rough 
16.2%Manufactured 
products
8.3%
Non-coniferous 
wood, sawn or 
chipped
6.3%Non-
coniferous 
wood, in the 
rough
6.2%
Non-
coniferous 
wood, sawn 
or chipped
6.0%Gold 1.0%Machinery and 
transport 
equipment 
6.9%Other 
manufactures
1.4%WT/TPR/S/455 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 305 - 
  Chart 1.2 Direction of merchandise trade, 2012 and 2021  
 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on the International Trade Centre's Trade Map database.  
1.15.  The European Union continues to be CAR's leading supplier, followed by China, the other 
CEMAC countries and Africa. It has not been possible to assess trade with neighb ouring countries, 
which is probably greatly underestimated in the available statistics. However, it is well known that 
CAR trades primarily with Cameroon, but normally exports agricultural products to Chad, from which 
it imports mainly livestock. It export s animal products to the Republic of the Congo. When security 
2012 2021
(a)    Exports (f.o.b.)
Other 4.2%
EU-27
30.6%China 6.2%CEMAC 
(WTO 
Member 
States) 
3.5%United Arab 
Emirates
47.6%
Viet Nam
1.8%Switzerland 
1.8% Mauritania
4.3%
Total: USD 114.2 million Total: USD 58.0 million
(b)    Imports (c.i.f.)
EU-27
39.2%China  11.4%
United States
3.7%Other
16.5%CEMAC 
(WTO Member States) 
9.8%
Japan  7.4%Nigeria 0.2%
Tunisia 0.3%
India 5.8%
Brazil
5.0%United 
Kingdom 
0.7% 
EU-27
22.9%China  10.5%
Other 
11.4%CEMAC 
(WTO Member 
States) 
35.6%
Japan 1.3%
United States
3.8%India 4.8%
Brazil
0.9%United Kingdom  
1.4% Tunisia 2.4%Nigeria 5.0%
Total: USD 217.8 million Total: USD 486.7 millionEU-27
62.8%CEMAC 
(WTO Member States) 
5.9%
Other
6.1%China 
13.8%United Arab 
Emirates
10.1%Switzerland 
0.9% 
Viet Nam
0.4%WT/TPR/S/455 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 306 - 
  conditions permit, it covers part of its diesel requirements by importing from Chad in addition to 
Cameroon.18 
1.16.  CAR is a net importer of services (Table 1.2). However, detailed statistics on trad e in services 
are either unavailable or largely contradict aggregated balance of payments statistics and are 
therefore not usable. It would appear that payments for travel and transport services have 
substantially contributed to (or exacerbated, depending on the year) the deficit in trade in services.19 
Table 1.2 Balance of payments, 2012 -21 
(USD  million)   
2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021a 
Current account balance  -140.9  -49.5 -260.3  -136.3  -249.7  -248.7  -257.8  -152.2  -160.0  -249.8  
Foreign trade balance  -120.3  -82.1 -346.0  -318.3  -306.4  -348.9  -424.5  -464.2  -371.6  -347.0  
Exports  203.1  125.0  98.4 85.8 92.6 140.7  140.1  148.3  134.0  134.3  
Imports, f.o.b.  -323.4  -207.0  -444.4  -404.0  -399.1  -489.4  -564.8  -612.7  -505.6  -481.5  
Services balance  -129.7  -60.9 -28.1 -4.1 -69.4 -141.6  -156.6  -96.9 -63.2 -117.6  
Revenue balance  -10.8 3.4 -5.1 -13.2 21.1 35.3 81.2 69.3 53.9 86.2 
Current transfers balance  120.0  90.0 118.9  199.2  104.6  206.5  242.0  339.6  221.0  128.6  
Capital and financial transactions account  88.0 58.9 255.3  76.9 209.2  273.7  252.0  159.6  153.1  154.9  
Capital account  69.9 22.3 161.3  68.0 119.1  134.5  90.6 105.0  147.3  164.6  
Public (net)  69.9 22.3 159.3  64.6 40.2 67.9 77.1 82.8 139.5  125.5  
Private (net)  0.0 0.0 2.1 3.4 79.0 66.6 13.5 22.2 7.8 39.1 
Financial transactions account  18.1 36.6 94.0 8.9 90.1 139.3  161,5  54.6 5.7 -9.7 
Direct investment (net)  47.3 1.8 58.9 0.3 -2.9 17.2 9.7 -14.0 -8.5 -28.0 
Portfolio investment (net)  -4.3 3.4 0.5 0.4 0.0 0.3 -1.4 -1.5 -5.0 -5.4 
Other net investment  -24.9 31.4 34.6 8.2 93.0 121.8  153,2  70.1 19.3 23.6 
Errors and omissions  28.6 8.8 3.6 -25.7 24.0 28.9 -33.7 -32.6 15.8 -23.6 
Overall balance  -24.3 18.1 -1.4 -85.1 -17.0 53.9 -39.4 -25.3 8.7 -118.5  
Financing  24.3 -18.1 1.4 85.1 17.0 -53.9 39.4 25.3 -8.7 118.5  
Changes in official reserves (decrease +)  4.8 -31.8 -79.4 34.9 -19.6 -61.1 39.4 25.3 -20.5 108.7  
Exceptional financing  19.5 13.6 80.7 50.3 36.4 7.2 0.0 0.0 11.8 9.7 
a Estimates.  
Source:  Information provided by the authorities.  
1.3.2   Foreign investment  
1.17.  There have been virtually no inflows of foreign direct investment owing mainly to the extended 
period of instability experienced by CAR. The issue appears to have been mainly one of 
disinvestment, accelerated by the COVID -19 pandemic. However, bursts of interest were observed 
in 2014, and then again in 2017 and 2018 (Table  1.2). 
 
 
 
18 Energy sector diagnostic report for the Central African Republic. Viewed at: 
https://info.undp.org/docs/pdc/Documents /CAF/Rapport%20de%20diagnostic%20du%20secteur%20%C3%A9
nergie%20RCA%20VF.pdf . 
19 IMF, Central African Republic: Request for a staff -monitored programme; IMF Report No. 22/31; 
22 December 2021. Viewed at: https://www.imf.org/ -
/media/Files/Publications/CR/2022/French/1CAFFA2022001.ashx . WT/TPR/S/455 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 307 - 
  2  TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES  
2.1  Overview  
2.1.  Following the last military coup in March  2013, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated 
Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic  (MINUSCA) was launched in April  2014. This 
made it possible to secure a large part of the capital and protect its civilian population. In 
March  2016, for the first time in its history, CAR had a democratically elected president and 
parliament, fol lowing two years of transition. The "National Recovery and Peacebuilding Plan 
2017-21" has helped to reduce the violence. It has three pillars: restoring security, peacebuilding 
and preventing conflicts; renewing the social contract between the State and s ociety (food security, 
basic services, improved governance); and economic recovery and reviving the production sectors. 
The Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic (APPR -RCA) was 
signed on 6  February  2019; subsequen tly, the Roadmap for Peace in the Central African Republic 
was signed in Luanda in September  2021. New elections were held and the President -elect was 
re-elected and began his second term on 30  March  2021. The next presidential elections are 
scheduled for 2025.  
2.2.  A new Constitution (the eighth since the proclamation of independence), providing for a 
bicameral assembly, was adopted in March  2016, under the transitional government. Under the new 
Constitution, the President of the Republic is the Head of State a nd the head of the executive branch. 
He is elected by direct universal suffrage in two rounds of voting for a five -year term of office, 
renewable for one further term. He appoints the Prime Minister (Head of the Government) and, on 
the latter's recommendat ion, appoints the other members of the Government, and determines their 
responsibilities by decree.  
2.3.  Legislative power is exercised by parliament (the National Assembly). It is made up of members 
elected by direct universal suffrage for a five -year term. Th e National Assembly passes laws and 
controls the Government's activities. The next legislative elections are scheduled for 2025.  
2.4.  Judicial power is exercised by the Court of Cassation, the Council of State, the Court of Auditors 
and the various courts and t ribunals. Commercial litigation is heard at first instance by the 
Commercial Court, on appeal by the Civil and Commercial Chamber of the Court of Appeal, and on 
appeal for annulment by the Civil and Commercial Chamber of the Court of Cassation. Litigation may 
also be referred to arbitration by the Common Court of Justice and Arbitration of the Organization 
for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA).  
2.5.  The Government and members of parliament are all empowered to introduce draft laws which, 
after being adopted by the National Assembly, become laws once they are promulgated by the 
Head of State and published in the Official Journal.  
2.6.  International agreements and treaties are negotiated, signed and ratified by the President of 
the Republic. The author ization of the National Assembly is required for any ratification or 
withdrawal. Once approved or ratified, they take precedence over laws, subject in each case to their 
application by the other party. Consequently, laws and regulations are classified in d escending order 
of authority as follows: international treaties and agreements, the Constitution, laws, ordinances, 
decrees, orders, and decisions.  
2.7.  The rules relating to the following areas are established by law: commerce, including 
international trade; p rivatization/nationalization of companies; status of foreign nationals and 
immigration; the tax base, rates and collection procedures for taxes of all kinds; and the fundamental 
principles of civil and commercial rights and obligations. The principal new t rade-related laws and 
regulations are listed in Table 2.1.  WT/TPR/S/455 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 308 - 
  Table 2.1 Principal new trade -related laws and regulations, March  2013 -2020  
Area (section of the report)  Legal instrument/text  
Exercise of the profession of trader  Law No.  16.006 of 30  December  2016 on the Commercial Code in 
CAR; 
 
Decree No.  20.335 of 10  September  2020 establishing the procedures 
for the implementation of certain provisions of Law No.  16.006 of 
30 December  2016 on the Commercial Code in CAR concerning the 
conduct of commercial activities;  
 
Decree No.  20.333 of 10  September  2020 establishing the procedures 
for the implementation of certain provisions of Law No.  16.006 of 
30 December  2016 on the Commercial Code in CAR con cerning 
competition;  
 
Decree No.  20.332 of 10  September  2020 establishing the operating 
procedures of the National Competition Commission;  
 
Decree No.  20.336 of 10  September  2020 establishing the operating 
procedures of the National Consumers' Commission.   
Customs legislation (3.1.1)  CEMAC Customs Code; CEMAC CET; budget  laws  
Preshipment inspection  .. 
VAT, excise duties, and other 
customs levies  General Tax Code, January  2017-20 edition;  
Budget  laws;   
Commercial import declaration 
(3.1.1)  Decree No.  15.424 of 24  November  2015 regulating imports and 
exports in CAR;  
Sanitary and phytosanitary 
measures  Law No.  65/61 of 3  June 1965 regulating livestock rearing in CAR.  
Investment (2.4)  Law No.  18.006 of 11  June 2018 establishing an Investment Charter.  
Private commercial law  OHADA Uniform Acts.  
Industrial property (3.3.7)  Revised Bangui Agreement.  
Protection of copyright and related 
rights  Ordinance No.  85.002 of 5  January  1985 on copyright.  
Competition and prices  Law No.  16.006 of 30  December  2016 on the Commercial Code in CAR . 
State -owned enterprises  Law No.  95.007 of 15  August  1995 (privatization);  
Law No.  08.011 of 13  February  2008 on the organization of the 
institutional and legal framework applicable to gover nment enterprises 
and offices.  
Government procurement (3.3.6)  Law No.  08.017 of 6  June 2008 establishing the government 
procurement code and public service concessions in CAR.  
Forestry  Law No.  08.022 of 17  October  2008 on the Forestry Code.  
Fauna  Ordinance No.  84.045 of 27  July 1984 on the protection of wildlife and 
the regulation of hunting in CAR (Wildlife Code).  
Fisheries  Ordinance No.  71/090 of 6  August  1971 (Fisheries and Aquaculture 
Code).  
Environment  Law No.  07.018 of 28 December  2007 on the Environment Code.  
Mining (4.2.1)  
Radioactive minerals  2015 Mining Code;  
Law No.  06-031 of 27  September  2006 on radioactive minerals in CAR.  
Upstream hydrocarbons  
Downstream hydrocarbons  
 
 
 
Biofuels  Ordinance No.  93.007 of 25 May 1993 on the Petroleum Code;  
Law No.  07.005 of 24  April 2007 on the reorganization of the 
downstream petroleum sector in CAR, liberalizing the subsector and 
laying down general rules for the exercise of any activity in the 
industry;  
Law No.  07.006 of  24 April 2007 establishing the Agency for the 
Stabilization and Regulation of Petroleum Product Prices (ASRP);  
Law No.  07.007 of 24  April 2007 establishing the Central African 
Petroleum Product Storage Company (SOCASP);  
Law No.  08.018 of 6 June 2008 on biofuels in CAR, creating the 
Biofuels Promotion Agency;  
Electricity  Ordinance No.  05.001 of 1  January  2005 on the Electricity Code;  
Decree No.  10.095 of 18  March  2010 establishing the legal regime, 
the conditions of declaration for the issue of authorizations to 
independent operators, self -supplying entities, independent electricity 
producers and  the taxation procedures;  
Decree No.  10.091 of 8  March  2000 approving a standard contract for 
public service concessions for electricity generat ion; 
Decree No.  10.092 adopting the national energy policy document.  WT/TPR/S/455 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 309 - 
  Area (section of the report)  Legal instrument/text  
Water/sanitation  Law No.  06.001 of 12  April 2006 on the Water Code of CAR.  
Road transport  Decree No.  90.043 of 13  February  1990 organizing road transport in 
CAR. 
River transport  CEMAC/DRC Inland Waterway Navigation Code of 17  December  1999.  
Civil aviation  Law No.  65.063 of 29  July 1965;  
CEMAC Civil Aviation Code.  
Telecommunications and postal 
services  
 Law No.  17.020 of 19  May 2017 on the creation of the regulatory 
authority for electronic communications and postal services in the 
Central African Republic . 
Tourism  Decree No.  10.348 01.242 of 14  September  2001 establishing the 
general framework for the exercise of tourism activities in  CAR. 
Employment  Law No.  09.004 of 29  January  2009 on the Labour Code in CAR.  
Town planning  Laws Nos.  61/263 and 62/359 on town planning, as amended 
by Ordinance  No. 71/003 of 16  January  1971 (currently being 
revised);  
Law No.  63/441 of 9 January  1964 regarding the national domain 
(currently  being revised);  
Law No.  09.003 of 16  January  2009 on the orientation of national 
territorial development policy.  
Banking and microfinance  BEAC and COBAC . 
Insurance  CIMA Insurance Code.  
.. Not available.  
Source:  Information provided by the national authorities.  
2.8.  A Commercial Code was adopted in December  2016.20 Its implementing decrees were also 
signed in 2020. It replaces around 50 disparate pieces of legislation and harmonizes domestic 
provisio ns with those of the OHADA Treaty . 
2.9.  Despite the conflicts, it would appear that the perceived level of corruption has not unduly 
worsened: in 2018, the country's ranking was 149th out of 180, compared to 144th out of 
182 countries in 2012. This improvement may be a reflection of the many initiatives taken in the 
past, including the establishment of the National Anti -Corruption Committee21; the creation of the 
National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF)22; the Special Anti -Fraud Unit (Section  4.2); and the 
ratification of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and the 
United  Nations Convention against Corruption.23 However, CAR was suspended from the Extractive 
Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and th e Kimberley Process ( Section 4.2.1). CAR's 
suspension from the EITI was lifted in 2020.  
2.2  Trade policy formulation and objectives  
2.10.  The main objectives of CAR's current trade policy are to build peace through commerce and 
to combat poverty through transactiona l relations, the latter providing a source of income for the 
people. The authorities are also working to diversify agricultural and mining exports, and to promote 
domestic agricultural products as a substitute for imports.  
2.11.  The Government is aware of the ce ntral role that trade can play in peacebuilding, but has 
stressed that initiatives to bring this role to the fore require financial resources that are not currently 
available. Initial measures would include the establishment of a truly secure regional live stock 
market; support for the creation of markets for food products; and the creation of a regional timber 
market to supply neighbouring Sahelian countries.24 
2.12.  Trade policy is formulated and implemented primarily by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, 
which  is responsible for dealing with issues relating to CAR's participation in the WTO, as well as in 
regional, subregional and bilateral trade bodies. Other institutions are also involved, including the 
Ministries responsible for finance; small and medium -sized enterprises (SMEs); crafts and the 
 
20 Law No.  16.006 on the Commercial Code, 30  December  2016.  
21 Decree No.  08.133 of 31  March  2008 establishing the National Anti -Corruption Committee.  
22 The National Financial Investigation Agency was created under Community legislation 
(Regulation  01/03 -CEMAC -UMAC -CM of 4 April 2003 on the prevention and punishment o f money laundering 
and financing of terrorism in Central Africa).  
23 Law No.  06.011 of 3  July 2006 ratifying the United Nations Convention against Corruption.  
24 Viewed at: https://issuu.com/objectif -developpement/docs/guerre -centrafrique -tchad -escalade -. WT/TPR/S/455 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 310 - 
  informal sector; planning and the economy; agriculture and rural development; tourism; transport; 
justice; and foreign affairs, albeit with potential overlaps.  
2.13.  Trade support bodies include:  
• The National Trade Negotiati ons Committee, for which the Ministry of Trade provides 
secretariat services. The Committee is composed of representatives of the technical 
departments and institutions involved in the trade negotiation process. Its budget is 
included in the operating budg et of the Ministry of Trade.  
• The Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mining and Crafts (CCIMA), currently financed by 
the State budget. It houses the Joint Consultation Framework for Improving the Business 
Environment, which falls under the responsibility of th e Prime Minister's Office and is 
composed of representatives of the private and public sectors and civil society, and the 
single window for business formalities (GUFE, Section 2.4).  
• The Central African National Employers' Union (UNPC), an organization comp rising 
professional associations from the sectors of banking, insurance, construction, trade, 
forestry, other services and industry.  
• The Interprofessional Group of the Central African Republic (GICA), an entity bringing 
together companies with an annual tu rnover of at least CFAF  1 billion, which has expressed 
the desire to be more involved in trade policy formulation.  
• The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), whose sectoral strategy and project 
management unit was set up by presidential decree in 2017. It ha s a number of 
achievements to its credit.25 
• The National Investment Commission (CNI) established under the Investment Charter 
(see below); a plan to create an investment and export promotion agency is in the process 
of being adopted by the National Assembl y. 
• CAR's Business Upgrading Office is now up and running and aims to boost the 
competitiveness of industrial enterprises through cost control, improved financial and 
technological management, and product quality certification. International 
competitiveness  and market positioning are also part of its activities.  
• The Centre for Support for SMEs and Cottage Industries (CAPMEA), re -established in 2017 
thanks to funding  from the African Development Bank.  
2.14.  One of the challenges facing CAR in 2020 was to capture th e synergies that could be developed 
between these different bodies in order to relaunch the activities of the National Trade Facilitation 
Committee (NTFC), provided for in Article 23.2 of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), but 
which had stalled du e to a lack of financial resources, a lack of IT tools and effective means of 
communication, and a lack of premises and support.26 
2.3  Trade agreements and arrangements  
2.15.  The Central African trade policy framework is composed of Community texts from the Central 
African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), the Economic Community of Central African 
States (ECCAS), the Community of Sahel -Saharan States (CEN -SAD), and texts in the pipeline from 
the African Union, in addition to the WTO Agreements, the OHADA Unifo rm Acts, the 2016 
Commercial Code, and the 2001 Investment Charter, revised in 2018. CAR ratified the Arms Trade 
 
25 Online information from the EIF. Viewed a t: https://www.enhancedif.org/fr/profil -pays/republique -
centrafricaine . 
26 The NTFC was set up in 2019 under the rotating chairmanship of the private and public sectors and 
the joint vice -chairmanship of the ministries of trade and transport. The NTFC secretariat services are also 
provided on a bipartite basis by Customs and the  Ministry of Trade. A draft prime ministerial order bringing the 
NTFC into operation was awaiting signature. The authorities have estimated the resources required to run the 
NTFC at EUR 220,000.  WT/TPR/S/455 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 311 - 
  Treaty in October  2015.27 CAR has also ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) 
Agreement and is in the process of drawing up its national strategy for implementing the AfCFTA, 
with funding from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).  
2.3.1   World Trade Organization  
2.16.  CAR is an original Member of the WTO. It is undergoing the third of its Trade Policy Reviews 
in 2023, t he others having taken place in 2007 and 2013. In January  2018, CAR ratified the Protocol 
of Amendment to insert the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement into Annex 1A of the WTO  Agreement. 
CAR is on the list of least developed countries and therefore benefits  from special and differential 
treatment. At the beginning of October  2022, CAR notified its commitments under the WTO Trade 
Facilitation Agreement.28 
2.17.  In general, CAR's participation in WTO decision -making bodies has been hampered by the 
"administrative arrangements" regarding sanctions against countries that have accumulated arrears 
in their contributions to the WTO: as at 10  July 2023, it was in category III. For this reason, it was 
unable to benefit from the technical assistance and tra ining activities organized by the WTO under 
its various programmes.  
2.3.2   Other agreements and arrangements  
2.18.  The Central African Republic is one of the 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries 
that signed the Cotonou Agreement, which came into force on 1 March  2000. Until 2007, the trade 
provisions of the Agreement were one of the mechanisms for cooperation between the ACP countries 
and the European Union. Since 2001, CAR has had access to trade preferences under the 
European  Union's "Everything but Arms " programme, which allows it to export everything considered 
to be originating, except arms, to the European Union duty free and ex quota. Like the other CEMAC  
countries , since 2007 it has participated in the negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreem ent 
(EPA) between the ACP States and the European Union in the framework of CEMAC extended to 
include Sao Tome and Principe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( Common  Report , Section 
2). In particular, the European Union is funding the 2018 Programme  of Support for Trade and 
Economic Integration (PACIE), one component of which is the upgrading of industrial enterprises 
(Section 4.3).  
2.4  Investment regime  
2.4.1   The Investment Charter  
2.19.  CAR launched a reform of its tax administration in 2006 to bring its tax syste m into line with 
the OHADA provisions, with three corporation tax systems based on the size of enterprises: a 
standard in rem regime for large companies, a simplified in rem regime for medium -sized companies, 
and a basic regime for small businesses. The co rporation tax rate is 30 %, and 20 % for companies 
carrying out agricultural activities. A "standard uniform tax" is levied at a rate of 12 % of turnover 
for companies with an annual turnover of less than CFAF  30 million (EUR  45,700).  
2.20.  The 2001 Investment Char ter, as amended in 2018, transposes the CEMAC Community 
provisions described in the Common  Report .29 It provides a framework for investment outside the 
existing specific sectoral frameworks for mining, oil, forestry and tourism ( Section 4).  
2.21.  The Charter aim s to encourage investment in the following areas of activity: processing of 
products of plant or animal origin; manufacturing or processing activities; energy production; 
construction of economic, social and industrial housing; public works and civil engin eering; 
collection, storage, packaging and processing of agricultural and food products; studies and 
 
27 Arms Trade Treaty. Viewed at: https://ihl -
databases.icrc.org/applic/ihl/dih.nsf/Treaty.xsp?documentId=4E2CB179C6AC3272C1257C7D00357FD8&action
=openDocument . 
28 Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) Database on notifications. Viewed at: 
https://www.tfadatabase.org/fr/members/central -african -republic . 
29 Law No.  01-010 of 16  July 2001 establishing an Investment Charter in CAR. Viewed at: 
https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/invest ment-laws/laws/49/central -african -republic -investment -law. Décret 
d'application n°  05-396 du 26  décembre  2005. WT/TPR/S/455 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 312 - 
  research; goods transport; analytical, testing or chemical and pharmaceutical production 
laboratories; book production and printing; assembly and maintenan ce of industrial, transport, 
telecommunication and electronic equipment; and manufacture of chemical and food products used 
as inputs for other industrial enterprises.  
2.22.  A revision of the Charter published in 2018 (Law No.  18.006 of 11  June 2018, not yet ava ilable 
on an official website) contains several innovations, including in particular:  
• priority given to hiring women and young people;  
• increased duration of benefits;  
• the State's willingness to grant land to new enterprises for the purpose of housing busin ess 
premises or staff accommodation;  
• property tax exemption for 8 to 10 years;  
• extension of the guarantees, rights and tax and customs benefits provided for, in 
accordance with Community provisions;  
• the requirement to carry out an environmental and social impact assessment;  
• reforms to facilitate VAT refunds to businesses; and  
• strengthening of the dispute settlement system, giving priority to arbitration and 
conciliation . 
2.23.  The granting of approval is determined mainly on the basis of local added value: the  minimum 
acceptable rate is 35 %. The other criteria include the effects of the investment in  terms of job 
creation, advantages for the State, its contribution in terms of external funding, the trade balance, 
and the environmental impact. The changes introduce d by the revision include broadening the scope 
of application and taking account of the land component.  
2.24.  In addition to the various guarantees offered to foreign investors (in particular, 
non-discrimination, free movement and free transfer of earnings), the  three main investment 
incentives are: the application of harmonized moderate customs duties (5 %) under the 
Common  External Tariff; exemption from corporation tax (IS) (see below for entitlement period); 
and a 1 % reduction in  registration fees in the case of company formation, new equity issues, 
mergers  or transfers of shares and holdings ( Section  2.4.1).  
2.25.  Companies with investments of between CFAF  100 million and CFAF  1 billion (EUR  150,000 
and EUR  1.5 million) are exempt from the IS for three years, and co mpanies with investments of at 
least CFAF  1 billion are exempt for five years, which can be extended twice. Companies 
located  100 km from the capital benefit from an additional year, those established between 
100 and 300 km from the capital, two years, and  those located beyond, three years. Only  the 
customs advantages are accorded during the additional period. In the case of the expansion of a 
company, the period of exemption from the corporation tax is reduced to the first two years of 
production. Registra tion fees are reduced by 50 % in cases of  company formation, new equity issues, 
mergers, or transfers of shares and holdings. In 2016, tax benefits totalling CFAF  48 million 
(EUR 732,000) were granted, mainly in the form of CET exemptions.  
2.4.2   Setting up a busi ness in the Central African Republic  
2.26.  The single window for business formalities  (GUFE) is used to carry out some of the formalities 
involved in setting up a business (Table 2.2) .30 The minimum share capital required to set up a 
business has been reduced from CFAF  1 million to CFAF  100,000.31 
 
30 Viewed at: http://www.gufe -rca.org . 
31 Decree No.  17.376 of 3  November 2017 on determining the form of the statutes of limited liability 
companies in CAR and prescribing their minimum share capital.  WT/TPR/S/455 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 313 - 
  2.27.  A foreign investor wishing to engage in commercial activity in the Central African Republic 
must obtain prior authorization from the competent authority. Where at least 51 % of the capital of 
a commercial compa ny is held by persons of Central African nationality, prior authorization is not 
required. If the proposed activity is subject to specific regulations, authorization can only be granted 
after a favourable technical opinion has been obtained from the minist ry responsible for the activity.  
Table 2.2 Formalities and fees associated with business start -ups  
Formalities  Responsible entities  Fees and observations  
1. Registration of notarized 
statutes and the  minutes of 
companies' constituent general 
meetings  Directorate -General of 
Taxation and State 
Property (DGID)/  
Notary  Registration fees: 1.5% of the registered capital  
Notarized declaration of the statutes: 
CFAF 20,000;  
Minutes: CFAF  20,000;  
Revenue stamps: CFAF  1,000/page . 
1bis. Registration of the leasehold 
agreement  DGID/notary  State property requires 4% of the registered 
capital for the registration of the leasehold 
agreement and a CFAF  1,000 stamp on each 
page of the statutes in six copies. The minutes 
are registered at CFAF  20,000. Registration of 
the leasehold agreement costs 12% of the 
annual rental amount.  
1ter. Property tax  .. .. 
Registration of notarized statutes 
and the  minutes of companies' 
constituent general meetings  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2. Registration in the commercial 
and personal property credit 
register (RCCM)  (GUFE) -CAR 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registry of the 
commercial court  
(GUFEa) - Registration fees: degressive rate (1.5% for 
registered capital between 0 -100 million with a 
minimum levy of CFA F 70,000) in accordance 
with the Tax Code and not 10%  
- Notarized declaration: CFAF  20,000  
- Minutes: CFAF  20,000  
- Revenue stamps: CFAF  1,000  
 
 
 
Natural persons: CFAF  15,000;  
Legal persons: CFAF  30,000; After a tax is 
levied, the Registry enters the declaration in 
Analytical Register A in the case of sole 
proprietorships and in Analytical Register B in 
the case of companies. The fee for notarization 
of status under private seal is CFAF  10,000.  
3. Inscription in the register of  
companies  CCIMA  Business 
Formalities Centre 
(CFE)  Optional: the fees are CFAF  10,000  (previously: 
CFAF 50,000) . 
4. Paying up of registered capital 
and opening of a bank account  Notary and bank  Registered capital is paid up through a notary, 
who transfers the funds to a bank in exchange 
for a statement of account.  
4bis. Publication of notice of 
company formation in a journal of 
legal notices, in accordance with 
the OHADA  Community 
Commercial Code relating to 
general commercial law, as 
revised, on the GUFE website 
(operationalization pending)  GUFE 
(operationalization 
pending)  A summary of the statutes must indicate the 
legal form of the company, its business or 
trading nam e, the registered office, the 
corporate purpose, the surnames, forenames, 
capacities and personal addresses of the 
administrators or manager, the start and end 
dates of business activity, the registry of the 
commercial court that received the statutes, the  
filing date and number, the amount of 
registered capital, cash contributions and a 
summary description of contributions in kind.  
The cost of this document is CFAF  180,000  if the 
request is made by an individual and 
CFAF 80,000  if the request is made by a notary . 
5. Payment of trade tax  
Registration with tax identification 
number (NIF)  DGID  Degressive rate of trade tax based on turnover 
(from 1% to 0.2% of turnover). CFAF  3,000 
(stamp duty) . WT/TPR/S/455 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 314 - 
  Formalities  Responsible entities  Fees and observations  
6. Preparation of the professional 
trader's card required for all 
import, export, wholesale and 
retail activities. Law No.  016 on 
the Commercial Code in CAR  CCIMA/Ministry of 
Trade  The documents to be presented to the CCIMA 
include the ministerial approval (copy); 
registration in the RCCM, the trade tax 
registration for the current year; the NIF; a 
revenue stamp (maximum 
CFAF 30,000  determined on the basis of the 
trade tax category); a certificate of registration 
in the social security system; a title deed or a 
registered leasehold agreement; and a 
statis tical index card issued by the Ministry of 
Trade.  
Registration in the National Social 
Security Fund (CNSS)  .. 22% of the wage bill (social security 
contributions) . 
Contribution to social development 
(CDS)    
Registration with the Central 
African Agency for Vocational 
Training and Employment  ..  
8. Authorization to  pursue the 
activity (if applicable)  Technical ministries  CFAF 0 to 100  million . 
.. Not available.  
a Can be carried out at the GUFE.  
Source:  Data provided by the national authorities.  
2.28.  The procedure for renting premises appears to be particularly complex: the investor must 
have a leasehold agreement drawn up by the owner of the premises, and have it regist ered both by 
a notary and with the land registry ( Table 2.2).32 
2.29.  The trade tax, at a degressive rate of 1 % to 0.2 % based on turnover, seems expensive for 
small businesses. Approval is sometimes required for certain activities. To that end , investors must 
apply for ministerial approval, attaching identity documents, a valid residence permit, an extract 
from the criminal record or a sworn statement, proof of opening a bank or post office account and a 
copy of the statutes.  
2.30.  Any entrepreneur who uses the service s of a worker is required to register with the 
National  Social Security Fund. Since 2007, the GUFE has been trying to facilitate this process, with 
the aim of helping investors to obtain approval quickly. The cost of setting up a commercial company 
depends  on its category, and can vary from CFAF  146,000 to CFAF  196,000.  
2.4.3   Other measures affecting investment  
2.31.  Some (domestic) provisions prescribe a tax reduction for companies that invest in human 
resource training or environmental protection: They can benefit fr om a 50 % reduction of the costs 
incurred for the training or refresher training of technical personnel, and 25 % of the costs for 
environmental protection. This benefit is limited to the three -year exemption period.  
2.32.  A new SME/SMI Code No.  20.011 came into f orce on 16  May 2020. It provides for the 
following exemptions from import duty and tax: a CET at a reduced rate of 5 % for imports of 
machinery, equipment, spare parts and industrial inputs required for approved investments, and the 
more favourable tax and customs provisions set out in the Investment Charter applicable to 
SMEs/SMIs. The Code also provides for easier access to government procurement and the granting 
of loans by the State at subsidized rates.  
2.33.  Disputes between the State and investors are settle d in accordance with the rules of the 
national courts or the provisions of the treaties and international conventions to which CAR is a 
party. These include the OHADA Common Court of Justice and Arbitration, and the International 
 
32 French Embassy in Bangui, Comment créer une société . Viewed at: https://www.ambarca -
paris.org/fr/la -rca/58/comment -creer-une-societe . WT/TPR/S/455 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 315 - 
  Centre for Settlement of I nvestment Disputes (ICSID); no case involving CAR has been referred to 
this institution since 2013.  
2.34.  CAR has signed bilateral investment protection treaties with Germany (which came into force 
in 1968) and Switzerland (1973).33 A bilateral reciprocity agreement grants French  nationals access 
to the Central African Republic's courts under the same conditions as nationals.34 The 
Cotonou  Agreement contains provisions to protect the investments of nationals 
of the European  Union in CAR. Provisions covering investment also exist in the agreements on the 
African Union, ECCAS and CEMAC.35 
2.35.  CAR and the other members of CEMAC signed a tax treaty in 1966 to encourage cross -border 
investment.36 CAR and France have an agreement that came into force in 1971 with a view to 
avoiding double taxation and establishing rules for mutual assistance in the areas of income tax, 
inheritance tax, registration duties and stamp duty.
 
33 Viewed at: https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/international -investment -
agreements/countries/38/central -african -republic . 
34 Establishment Agreement between the Government of the French Republ ic and the Government of 
the Central African Republic, signed at Bangui on 26  September  1994. Viewed at: 
https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.d o?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000000199066&categorieLien=id . 
35 1965 Common Convention on Investments in the States of the Central African Customs and Economic 
Union. Viewed at: http://aei.pitt.edu/35570/1/A1606.pdf . 
36 Viewed at: http://www.droit -afrique.com/upload/doc/cemac/CEMAC -Acte-1966-05-conve ntion-
fiscale.pdf . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 316 - 
  3  TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1  Measures directly affecting imports  
3.1.  In 2020, import (and export) processes in the Central African Republic (CAR) remained very 
laborious. The national territory is highly permeable to contraband because it is difficult to carry out 
customs supervision along the ful l length of the country's borders, given the persistence of armed 
conflicts and the authorities' lack of resources. It is almost impossible to control irregular population 
movements along rivers and land borders. Some 80 % of officially imported goods, by v alue, transit 
through the port of Douala in Cameroon, along the 1,500  km Douala -Bangui trunk route; the 
remainder are generally routed via the port of Pointe -Noire in the Republic of the Congo. In order to 
minimize attacks by armed groups, vehicles arrivin g in the country through these corridors were, in 
2019, obliged to join one of the thrice -weekly convoys ( Section  3.1.1.1) protected by the Army of 
the Central African Republic. Since the country's armed forces have secured the corridor, such 
convoys are n o longer necessary.  
3.1.1   Customs procedures  
3.1.1.1   Transit and pre -clearance of goods in countries where ports are located  
3.2.  As CAR has no coastline, it is largely dependent on transit through neighbouring countries. 
Since 2005, under the administrative assistance agree ment of April of the same year between the 
customs authorities of Cameroon and CAR, the latter's customs officials operate a "one -stop" window 
for transit to CAR in the port of Douala, which is responsible for initial customs procedures in respect 
of goods  to be imported into CAR. However, other controls are also carried out at checkpoints set 
up along the road corridor before the goods are finally cleared in Bangui, in order to prevent 
offloading in Cameroonian territory on route.37 The documents required for this pre -clearance are 
the transit permit, the export declaration and the invoice, along with proof of payment of the customs 
duties for goods originating outside CEMAC.  
3.3.  The multiple administrative formalities and procedures cause delays and the risk o f damage to 
the goods. The statutory duration of the processing of transit documents is lengthy (45 days), while 
the period during which unloaded goods may remain in the port is 11 days. Demurrage charges 
apply from the twelfth day onwards, increasing impo rt costs. The lodging of a bank guarantee 
equivalent to the suspended duties and taxes on the goods in transit is required. The guarantee can 
be recovered following verification that the guaranteed goods have actually left Cameroonian 
territory.  
3.4.  Numerous p arties are involved in the process of providing security for imports, each demanding 
payment by importers:  
• Since 2014, the Hauliers' Union has been organizing convoys of vehicles transporting 
imported and exported goods, against payment of CFAF  25,000 (EUR  38) per truck.  
• The Central African Road Charter Bureau (BARC) is a semi -public entity (State  33%, 
carriers and forwarders 66%) responsible for chartering transportation, in accordance with 
bilateral conventions (Section  4.4.2.3). BARC charges a management  fee (4% of the 
consignment's value), plus a chartering fee (2%).  
• The Land Freight Management Bureau (BGFT) of Cameroon, under the aegis of the 
country's Ministry of Transport, charges CFAF  34,000, or EUR  52 for a bill of lading when 
goods bound for the Ce ntral African Republic leave Cameroon.  
• The Shippers' Council levies a fee amounting to 0.25% of the value of imports for its work 
defending the interests of importers and exporters. According to the Council, however, it 
did not receive the proceeds of this  fee from the customs authority in December  2019.  
3.5.  The management of international transit suffers from bulk breaking at the borders and from 
the maintenance of domestic procedures for managing transit, rather than a TIR -style system. 
 
37 World Bank (2018), Breaking down the barriers to regional agricultural trade in Central Africa . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 317 - 
  Moreover, the grouping  of loads into convoys and customs escorts increase transit costs. The 
authorities have identified three projects that would make transit run more smoothly:  
• construction of two well -equipped dry ports (in Boali and Beloko) dedicated to transit;  
• improvement  of transit procedures, in order to remove obstacles to the movement of 
persons and goods; and  
• a project to  improve cooperation at the borders.  
3.6.  Coordination of procedures with Cameroon and interconnection of the two countries' clearance 
systems could be im proved, in order to reduce the overlapping of the two border agencies' duties. 
The coordinated border -management approach, developed by the World Customs Organization 
(WCO), could substantially help mitigate these problems.  
3.1.1.2   Registration of traders and cust oms brokers  
3.7.  Companies incorporated in CAR and possessing a trader's card may import goods; the relevant 
procedures are described in Section  2.4.2. The issuance of licences was suspended in 2013, 
recommencing only in 2016, with the enactment of the Law on t he CAR Commercial Code. In 2019, 
130 licences were issued; 156 were issued in 2020; 160 in 2021: and 148 in 2022 (source: 
Directorate of Domestic Trade). The licences issued by the Ministry responsible for trade serve as 
authorization to engage in a commer cial activity in the national territory and provide a basis for 
producing a database of economic operators by activity.  
3.8.  Article 112 of the CEMAC Customs Code provides that imported or exported goods may be 
declared in detail only by the owners of the goods  or by natural or legal persons who are approved 
customs brokers. Member States may, if necessary, limit this right to approved customs brokers 
only. The Central African Republic has not limited this right. It is therefore not compulsory to enlist 
the serv ices of a customs broker to carry out customs clearance operations. In March  2020, there 
were 19  custom brokers in the country. The licence is issued by the Council of Ministers of the Central 
African Economic Union ( CAEU ), taking into account the opinion of the National Consultative 
Committee of Approved Customs Brokers.  
3.1.1.3   Procedures and documentation  
3.9.  The Directorate -General of Customs (hereinafter Customs), under the aegis of the Ministry of 
Finance and Budget, is responsible for applying legislation and re gulations on the movement of 
persons, goods, modes of transport and capital into and out of the national territory. In particular, 
Customs is responsible for applying and enforcing the CEMAC Customs Code ( Common  Report ) and 
for estimating and collecting th e applicable duties and taxes, including on behalf of other official 
institutions. It is the largest provider of the State's own -source revenue, contributing some 43.9 % 
of government revenue in 2020, 44.6 % in 2021 and 46.8 % in 2022.  
3.10.  The procedure for custo ms declarations has changed since the last TPR in 2013 owing 
inter alia to the ending, on 1  February  2019, of the contract with the private inspection firm BIVAC, 
which was previously responsible for registering commercial import declarations (DICs).38 Now, any 
natural or legal person wishing to import goods into the territory of the Central African Republic is 
required to submit a declaration to Webb Fontaine, pursuant to the contract concluded with the 
Government.  
3.11.  Customs uses the Automated System for  Customs Data (ASYCUDA++). In April  2022, 
however, it started the process of migration to ASYCUDA World, which should be operational from 
January  2023 onwards. Customs has also requested technical assistance for the development of its 
Internet site. Such a ssistance should also cover the development of a set of guidelines on how to 
make the best use of information and communication technologies.  
 
38 Viewed at: https://verigates.bureauveritas.com/sites/verigates/files/2019 -
06/Avis%2Baux%2BImportateurs%2Barr%C3  per centAAt%2BContrat.pd f. WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 318 - 
  3.12.  An authorization from the Ministry responsible for trade is required for any importation or 
exportation of goods. The following conditions must be met, in order for a business authorization or 
trade licence to be issued:  
• handwritten request to the Minister responsible for trade;  
• civil status certificate or equivalent document;  
• criminal record certificate or equ ivalent document;  
• copy of the articles of association in the case of legal persons;  
• residence permit or entry visa (less than three months old) in the case of foreigners;  
• residence certificate;  
• copy of bank account identification details;  
• copy of extract f rom the Commercial and Personal Property Credit Register;  
• copy of the certification of place of business;  
• filing fee of CFAF  10,000 for natural persons, whether nationals or non -nationals, or of 
CFAF 25,000 for legal persons . 
3.13.  According to the authorities, the purpose of this authorization is to establish a database of 
economic operators, with a view to regular monitoring of their activities.  
3.14.  Although legal frameworks (including Community frameworks, Common  Report ) exist in 
many domains (such as customs, tax ation, trade, tourism, forestry, agriculture, mining and 
transport), they are not sufficiently publicized or easily accessible. Some technical departments have 
websites that do not work correctly or, if they do work, are not regularly updated. CAR has, the refore, 
made the creation of a trade -dedicated website, along with the human, financial and material 
resources to operate such a site, its top priority for technical assistance.  
3.15.  Likewise, Customs does not have an official enquiry point to provide users wit h information 
on import, export and transit formalities. The Ministry of Trade and Industry is responsible for 
ensuring that WTO notification requirements are met. Finally, the lack of a framework for 
consultation within the Ministry of Trade and within Cu stoms prevents foreign trade operators from 
making observations about draft laws or regulations before their entry into force.  
3.16.  In March  2020, the documents mentioned in Table 3.1 were apparently supposed to 
accompany the customs declaration (Article 124 of  the CEMAC Code). It is important to highlight the 
many instances of information overlap between the different documents. Documents in electronic 
format are not accepted.  
Table 3.1 Documentation required for i mports, 2019  
Name of document  Purpose of document  Nature of document  
Commercial import declaration (DIC)  Customs declaration  Original, hard copy  
Licence to engage in foreign trade  .. Original, hard copy  
Bill of lading  Nature, weight and marks of the shipped 
goods (maritime transport contract)  Original, hard copy  
Purchase invoice  Value of goods  Original, hard copy  
Freight invoice  Freight costs  Original, hard copy  
Insurance certificate  Insurance of the goods  Original, hard copy  
Proof of prior registration and, where 
applicable, original electronic cargo 
tracking note  .. Original, hard copy  
Certificate of origin  Origin of the goods  Original, hard copy  
Phytosanitary certificate  Phytosanitary security  Original, hard copy  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 319 - 
  Name of document  Purpose of document  Nature of document  
BIVAC  verification certificate (ADV)  Abolished in 2015. Once the inspection was 
completed, BIVAC issued the verification 
certificate, which was then required for 
customs clearance of the goods  Original, hard copy  
Waybill, air consignment note, 
manifest  Consign or and consignee, marks and 
numbers, amount and description of goods  Original, hard copy  
.. Not available.  
Source:  Information provided by the authorities.  
3.17.  The CEMAC Customs Code also provides (Article 111) that the detailed declaration must be 
filed after the goods have arrived . The new Code also authorizes advance  filing. 
3.18.  Since 2008, all imports (and exports) of non -exempt goods have been shipped with an 
electronic cargo tracking note (ECTN), the purpose of which is to ensure the traceability of good s 
imported into CAR In 2019 the ECTN was issued by Customs and by the Ministry of Transport, 
pursuant to the agreements concluded with two private providers, one mandated by Customs 
(Antaser), the other by the Ministry of Transport (Genovese39), each of wh ich invoiced for amounts 
that varied according to the origin of the goods (Europe/Africa or the rest of the world):  
• a fixed element of EUR  70-120, depending on the origin of the goods;  
• vehicles: EUR  50-100, depending on their weight;  
• TEU containers: EUR  50; 
• FEU containers: EUR  100; 
• bulk: EUR  5 per  m3 or tonne .40 
3.19.  In the event that goods are unloaded in the Central African Republic without the fee being 
paid in advance, a fine of CFAF  80,000 (EUR  122) per declaration is levied (Article 27 of the 2014 
Budget  Law).  
3.20.  The revenue from the ECTN is divided between the insp ection company, the State and the 
partner that acted as liaison between them.  
3.21.  The other declared priorities of Customs are the introduction of a risk management system 
connected to the customs clearance system and the reorganization and strengthening of th e 
mechanism for monitoring and combating fraud.41 Customs has already rolled out ASYCUDA, thereby 
enabling selectiveness, with four declaration channels: the green channel for cargoes representing 
no risk and not requiring document checks or physical inspe ction; the blue channel for trusted 
operators ("citizen companies") that benefit from post -clearance audit facilities; the yellow channel 
for cargoes needing document checks, on the basis of which a physical inspection may or may not 
be required; and the r ed channel for cargoes that systematically require a physical inspection.  
 
39 Viewed at: https://www.agenziagenovese.it/fr/expeditions -republique -centrafricaine/ . See als o: 
http://news.abangui.com/h/60611.html . A third company, GetCTN, also seems to be active.  
40 Circular Note No. 0355/18/MFB/DIR.CAB/DGDDI of 1 March 2018. Viewed at: 
https://www.antaser.com/mvc/pub/tariff . 
41 Among other things, the Government of the Central African Republic has requested: (1) assistance 
with benchmarking in a member country of the WCO -WCA region, e.g. Burkina Faso (WTO); (2) technical 
assistance in developi ng an inter -agency risk management strategy and an institutional framework with 
mechanisms for sharing risk -related data and information (WCO); (3) technical assistance in establishing the 
legal framework for risk management and selective controls relating  to the automated clearance system 
(WCO); (4) capacity -building for the authorities responsible for risk management (WCO/United Nations 
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)) and capacity -building for the post -clearance structure on 
the WCO Guidelin es for Post -Clearance Audit (WCO/WTO); (5) financial support for ensuring that risk criteria 
are regularly reviewed and updated (WTO); and (6) funding of migration to ASYCUDA World and, in particular, 
its single window module (WTO/UNCTAD). Viewed at: 
https://tfadatabase.org/uploads/notification/NCAF1A2.pdf . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 320 - 
  3.22.  Customs used Chinese funding to buy two scanners, but these were destroyed during the 
armed conflicts and are not operational. Nevertheless, in order to repay the related loan, a sca nner 
management fee (0.25 %) is levied on all imports, whether scanned or not.  
3.23.  Although import cargoes are inspected in nearly all cases, no formal procedures seem to exist 
for informing the importer or its customs broker of the detention of goods. Customs does not appear 
to have activated the ASYCUDA functionality that enables the customs broker to be automatically 
informed when the cargo is assigned to the red channel and detained for inspection.  
3.24.  Penalties are levied for various customs offences. A portion  of each penalty is returned, by 
way of incentive, to the customs officers who found and punished the customs offence (the "seizing 
officers"). The breakdown applied is 20 % for the seizing officers; 30 % for the public treasury; 49 % 
for the joint fund distr ibuted to all customs officers at the end of each quarter, by way of proportional 
entitlement; and 1 % for combating fraud.  
3.25.  Remote payments, credit -card payments and other forms of e -payment are still impossible in 
CAR. The system in force consists of, firs t, determination of the total duty and tax payable; second, 
the customs broker going in person to the bank to make the payment; and, lastly, the broker 
returning with the stamped and sealed proof of payment, in hard copy. Within the Ministry of 
Finance, re mote payment was planned for late 2019. Establishment of a legal framework enabling 
e-payments necessitates the revision of the CEMAC Customs Code, the establishment of a 
partnership between Customs and the banks and the identification of the payment syste ms best 
suited to the Central African Republic.  
3.26.  Under Article 140 of the CEMAC Customs Code, Customs releases imported goods, provided 
that a guarantee is provided. Customs also applies expedited release procedures, at the operators' 
request and subject to  a financial guarantee. When the clearance credit procedure is used, an 
increase is applied.  
3.27.  Customs has established a partnership with some "citizen companies", with a view to 
encouraging and facilitating their customs procedures. For citizen companies, a dditional streamlining 
facilities are available for the processing of their import, export and transit operations. These 
authorized operators are selected on the basis of specified criteria. However, the current legal 
framework does not take into account t he requirements of the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards 
establishing the status of authorized economic operator.42 
3.1.2   Customs valuation and preshipment inspection  
3.28.  Although it has, in principle, since 2001, been applying the WTO Customs Valuation 
Agreement – the provisions of which are reproduced verbatim in the CEMAC regulations – CAR 
maintained a contract between 2003 and 2018 with the French private company Bureau Veritas 
(BIVAC), in order to combat undervaluation. In practice, a period of at least five days was provided 
for preshipment inspection, which also covered imports within CEMAC. Any declared value lower 
than the corresponding "attested" value was deemed to have been lowered and was adjusted Since 
that contract came to an end in December  2018, Webb Fo ntaine has been the new provider. Customs 
is now requesting technical assistance, with a view to taking back responsibility for the duties 
previously discharged by the inspection company.  
3.29.  In November  2019, the Government of CAR awarded the company Webb Fon taine a public 
contract worth CFAF  2.4 billion (EUR  3.6 million) to strengthen the customs value control procedure. 
In 2020, Webb Fontaine launched the e-douane  (e-customs) portal, which is intended to enable 
economic operators and customs brokers to obtai n validation of their import or export declarations 
by the Ministry responsible for trade and industry and to submit their advance import declarations.  
 
42 WCO (2018), SAFE Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade: 2018 edition. 
Viewed at: http://www.wcoomd.org/ -/media/wco/public/fr/pdf/topics/facilitation/instruments -and-
tools/tool s/safe -package/cadre -de-norme -safe.PDF?la=fr . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 321 - 
  3.1.3   Rules of origin  
3.30.  The CEMAC rules of origin are applied domestically in CAR ( Common  Report ). No company or 
product from CAR has been approved since the introduction of the Community system.  
3.1.4   Customs levies  
3.1.4.1   Customs duties  
3.31.  As a member of CEMAC, the Central African Republic applies its Common External Tariff (CET) 
to imports of goods originating outside CEMAC ( Common  Report , Section  3.1.4). For a period, 
however, CAR applied derogations from the CET to some products deemed sensitive and essential, 
in particular wheat flour, frozen fish and oil. In 2021, however, the Government returned to the 
rates set ou t in the CEMAC CET.  
3.1.4.2   Other duties and charges  
3.32.  In addition to the CET, CAR applies numerous other duties and charges that increase the cost 
of the country's imports. Some are CEMAC charges, others are used to fund certain beneficiaries 
(Table 3.2). In additi on, a specific duty of CFAF  7 is levied on each net kilogram of coffee imported 
in an authorized period43 and specific duties and taxes are applicable to used vehicles.  
Table 3.2 Other duties and charges on im ports, 2020  
(% unless otherwise specified)  
Designation  Beneficiary  CAR legislative text  
1. African Union levy (0.2 %) African Union  Article 19 of the 2019 Budget  Law 
2. Community integration tax (1 %) CEMAC Commission  .. 
3. ECCAS tax (0.4 %) ECCAS  Commission  .. 
4. Computer fee (0.5 %) Ministry of Finance  .. 
5. OHADA fees  (0.5%)  OHADA Secretariat  .. 
6. Central African Forests 
Commission (COMIFAC) tropical 
forest charge (0.1 %) COMIFAC  Articles 31 and 32 of the 2008 Budget  Law 
7. Scanner management fee 
(0.25 %)  Repayment of debt incurred 
for scanner purchase  Article 18 of the 2012 Budget  Law, as amended 
by Article 23 of the 2016 Budget  Law 
8. Shippers' Council charge 
(0.25 %) Customs  Article 26 of the 2014 Budget  Law 
9. Levy on computer equipment for 
finance (REIF) (0.50 %) Ministry of Finance, 
ASYCUDA  .. 
10. Statistical fee (0.25 %)  .. Article 30 of the 2016 Budget  Law 
11. Transit fee (CFAF  15,000)  .. .. 
12. ECTN penalty (CFAF  80,000)  Customs  .. 
13. Customs value adjustment in 
the absence of proof of insurance  .. .. 
14. Advance on income tax (3 %) .. .. 
15. Inspection levy (1 %) Customs  .. 
.. Not available.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat, on the basis of information provided by the authorities.  
3.1.4.3   Bindings  
3.33.  CAR has bound 61.7 % of its tariff lines in the WTO. Resulting solely from the Uruguay Round, 
these bindings cover all agricultural products, like those of all other WTO Members, as well as several 
non-agricultural products. For agricultural products, the bindings were at the ceiling rate of 30 %; 
for non -agricultural products, the bound rates range from 20 to 70 %. Lack of bindings makes the 
tariff system in relation to the products in question less predic table. In the case of one tariff line, 
HS 871200 (bicycles and other cycles), the rate applied (30 %) is higher than the bound rate (25 %). 
The "other duties and charges" on products for which tariffs were bound are at the 0 or 16 % rate, 
depending on the cat egory of good, although they are, in some instances, taxable at non -zero rates. 
CAR's schedule of concessions was transposed successively into the 2002, 2007 and 2012 versions 
 
43 Interministerial Order No. 029/MFB/MAE/MICA of 11 January 1996.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 322 - 
  of the Harmonized System (HS). These schedules were certified in 2011, 2014, 201 8 and 2020, as 
part of the transposition exercise undertaken by the WTO Secretariat.44 
3.1.5   Internal taxes  
3.34.  CAR applies value added tax (VAT) and excise duty to goods for home consumption, in 
accordance with Community law ( Common  Report , Section  3). 
3.1.5.1   Value added tax 
3.35.  The general VAT rate in CAR has been 19 % since 2006. A reduced VAT rate of 5 % is applied 
to some staple goods, whether imported or produced locally ( Table 3.3). The same principles are 
observed in cases of full exemption from VAT. Following adoption of  the 2020 Budget  Law, a 
distinction is no longer made between imported and local products for the purpose of exempting 
meat from VAT. The zero rate is applicable to exports, to their accessories and to related 
international transport. A reduced rate of 5 % is applicable to the following products: milk and cream, 
not concentrated, containing added sugar or other imported sweetening matter; imported edible 
vegetables and certain roots and tubers; other medical or surgical furniture; books, other than 
textbooks ; imported meat and poultry; and dentists' chairs. VAT is levied on goods for home 
consumption, irrespective of their origin (including goods of CEMAC origin).  
Table 3.3 VAT-exempt staples  
HS tariff number  Tariff description  
02.01 to 02.08  Meat and poultry  
03.05  Locally produced fish  
04.01  Milk and cream, not concentrated, containing added sugar or other sweetening matter  
05  Bread  
07.01 to 07.14  Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers  
08.01 to 08.14  Fruit (produced locally)  
1901.10.11  Preparations for infant use  
2930.21. 00  Quinine and its salts  
2937.91.00  Insulin and its salts  
29.41  Antibiotics  
30  Pharmaceutical products  
3004.90.00  Triple therapy  
3007.00.90  Dental wax  
3702.10.00  Film for X -ray  
38.08  Insecticides and pesticides, other than registered agricultural inputs  
40.14  Hygienic or pharmaceutical articles of rubber  
4014.10.00  Sheath contraceptives  
4014.90.00  Other hygienic articles  
4015.11.00  Gloves for surgical purposes  
49.01  Printed books  
7015.10.00  Glasses for spectacles  
8419.20.00  Medical, surgical or laboratory sterilizers  
87.13  Carriages for disabled persons  
90.04  Spectacles, goggles and the like, corrective, protective or other  
9018.11  
9022.90  Medical appliances used for medical and ophthalmological assessment  
9402.10.11  Dentists' chairs  
9402.10.19  Other medical or surgical furniture  
n.a.  First bracket of residential water and electricity consumption  
n.a. Not applicable.  
Source:  2020 Budget  Law and information provided by the authorities.  
3.1.5.2   Excise taxes  
3.36.  CAR levies a 30 % excise tax on cigarettes an d tobacco products, as well as a 25 % excise tax 
on alcoholic beverages; motor vehicles and motorcycles; arms and ammunition; jewellery and 
precious stones; perfumes and cosmetics, including toothpaste and dental floss; televisions; 
 
44 The certified schedules are available in WTO documents WT/Let/774, WT/Let/1001, WT/Let/1359 and 
WT/Let/1492 . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 323 - 
  photographic cameras; an d cinematographic cameras. A rate of 10 % is applied to non -alcoholic 
beverages. Locally produced alcoholic beverages are exempt from excise tax, which causes a 
problem in relation to the principle of national treatment. Since 2018, a supplementary specific  
excise tax has been levied on alcohol and tobacco products (Table 3.4).  
Table 3.4 Additional excise taxes levied in CAR, 2020  
Tariff 
item  Description  Specific excise tax  
22.03 Beer CFAF 30/litre  
22.04 - champagne  
- other sparkling wine  
- red, white or rosé wine (in bottles)  
- red, white or rosé wine (in cartons)  CFAF 1,000/litre  
CFAF 600/litre  
CFAF 600/litre  
CFAF 300/litre  
22.08 Spirits, whiskies, rum, gin, vodka, etc.  CFAF 1,500/litre  
24.02 - cigars  
- cigarillos  
- cigarettes  CFAF 600 per cigar  
CFAF 250 per cigarillo  
CFAF 30 per pack of 20 cigarettes  
Source:  Budget  Laws.  
3.1.5.3   Advance payment on income or corporation tax  
3.37.  Since 2011, an additional 3% on income tax (IR) or corporation tax (IS) has been levied on 
all transactions in goods and services of a commercial nature. This "advance payment" applies to 
imports and, in principle, also to transactions on the domestic market, with the exception of the sale 
of water and electricity. Since 2007, the  advance payment has been set at 3 % of the customs value 
plus all duties and taxes, except for VAT (and excise tax, where applicable) and 3 % of the price 
(including all taxes, except for VAT) for transactions on the domestic market. Economic operators 
not subject to the IS or the IR pay the minimum flat rate tax (IMF) of 3 %. 
3.1.6   Tariff preferences  
3.38.  In accordance with Community provisions, CAR allows duty -free entry, in principle, for goods 
originating in other CEMAC member countries. However, goods that originat ed outside CEMAC but 
have been cleared for domestic consumption through the payment of duties and taxes in another 
CEMAC country are taxed again on entry into CAR (lack of single market or free circulation).  
3.1.7   Duty and tax concessions  
3.39.  In addition to the syst ems of concessions and exemptions from Community duties and taxes 
(Common  Report , Section  3), CAR grants duty and tax exemptions to enterprises approved under 
the National Investment Charter (Section  2.4), the Forestry Code (Section  4.1), the Mining Code 
(Section  4.2) and the Petroleum Code (Section  4.2). Duty and tax exemptions also apply to goods 
imported by state bodies and public entities. Other exemptions are granted to "large enterprises", 
under the agreements on their establishment, or under bilatera l conventions or agreements.  
3.40.  An Interministerial Committee on Tax and Duty Exemptions, established by statutory order, 
has put an end to exemptions for a number of products, including, but not limited to, tobacco 
products, alcohol, fuels and lubricants. An y beneficiary of a duty exemption is required, on penalty 
of non -renewal, to provide Customs annually with proof of the use to which all such duty -exempt 
goods were put in the previous year. For imports, as specified in the CEMAC Customs Code, the 
followin g conditional relief procedures are frequently used in the Central African Republic: the 
general bond note, temporary admission, warehousing, and the inward processing and outward 
processing regimes.  
3.1.8   Prohibitions, quantitative restrictions and licensing  
3.41.  The Central African Republic has not notified the WTO of the country's prohibition, 
authorization and import licensing regimes, as such. In 2004, the WTO Committee on Technical 
Barriers to Trade was notified of the 90 % monopoly on sugar imports granted to th e privately owned 
African Sugar Company (SUCAF -RCA) (Section  4.1.3.3). The Government has not renewed the 
protocol agreement with SUCAF -RCA and no longer requires authorizations for sugar imports. SUCAF WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 324 - 
  has been placed in voluntary liquidation by its share holders. Thus, sugar imports are no longer under 
a monopoly.  
3.42.  CAR operates two categories of import prohibition: compulsory prohibitions against arms, 
ammunition, firework toys and drugs; and ad hoc  prohibitions on sanitary and phytosanitary 
grounds, among others. Thus, in December  2015, CAR banned imports of poultry and poultry 
products (Table  3.5).45 Coffee imports are only permitted after a certain date each year, usually in 
April. The importation of pharmaceuticals is subject to registration procedures a nd a marketing 
authorization from the Ministry of Health, while the importation of pharmaceuticals for veterinary 
use requires approval by the Ministry responsible for livestock.  
Table 3.5 Import controls and restrictions, 2020  
Product  Responsible 
body /measure  Section of the report/legislative text  
Coffee  .. Interministerial Order No.  029/MFB/MAE/MICA of 
11 January  1996 
Arms and ammunition; radio 
equipment (transmitters and 
receivers)  Ministry of the Interior  Prior authorization  
Iodized salt  Controls  Decree No.  95.038 of 6  February  1995 
Sugar  Ministry of Trade  See Section  4.1.3 
Saccharin  Controls  Interministerial Order No.  002/MCIPSP/MSP of 
11 January  2002 
Poultry and poultry products  Import prohibition  Order No.  023/MCDMR/MDEMCAB.15 of 
23 December  2015 prohibiting the importation of 
poultry and poultry products  
Ivory Ministry of Trade  Ordinances No.  85.005 of 30  January  1985 ending 
the right to hunt elephants and  
No. 85.046 of 31  October  1985 banning the 
collection and trading of ivory in the 
Central  African Republic  
Interministerial Order No.  072 of 3  February  2004 
Telephony equipment  Regulatory Authority for 
Electronic 
Communications and 
Postal Services (ARCEP)  Section  4.4.2 
 
Pharmaceutical products  Ministries responsible for 
health or livestock  Decree No.  94.196 of 4  June 1994 (human health)  
Law No.  65/61 of 3  June 1965 (livestock)  
Soap containing mercury  Import prohibition  .. 
Live animals, trophies and 
protected species  Ministry of Agriculture, 
Water and Forestry 
(veterinary service)  Section 3.2.2 and CITES  
Fuels Ministry of Energy  Prior authorization  
.. Not available.  
Source:  Directorate -General of Customs.  
3.1.9   Contingency measures  
3.43.  There is no domestic legislation on anti -dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures; 
the relevant CEMAC provisions ( Common  Report , Section  3.1.12) are applied in CAR. According to 
the authorities, no contingency measure has ever been taken in the country. However, under th e 
new Commercial Code of 2016 (Article 121), the Minister responsible for trade may take measures, 
in particular by means of quotas or customs surcharges, to prohibit or restrict the importation of 
one or more products that cause or threaten to cause injur y to an existing domestic industry or that 
jeopardize the start -up of a domestic industry. The Code also contains provisions that can be applied 
when anti -competitive practices caused by companies located outside the national territory are being 
felt in th e domestic market. Any practice consisting of a foreign company selling within the 
Central  African Republic at prices lower than those charged in the territories where the products or 
services offered originate is prohibited (Article 151) when those prices  could cause or threaten to 
cause injury to a domestic industry producing like products. A draft law governing foreign trade is 
currently before the National Assembly for enactment. Title IV of the draft law provides for the 
 
45 Order No. 023/MCDMR/MDEMCAB.15 of 23 December 2015 prohibiting the importation of poultry and 
poultry products.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 325 - 
  imposition of anti -dumping, cou ntervailing and safeguard measures, where applicable. The draft law 
is awaiting enactment by the plenary of the National Assembly.  
3.2  Measures directly affecting exports  
3.44.  Products intended for export are generally transported by road to the port of Douala 
(1,500 km). Therefore, such products pass through customs twice: once in CAR and once in 
Cameroon, the goods' transit country. A single commercial export declaration (DEC) must be filed 
for all outgoing goods (exports and re -exports). However, the re -exportati on of products intended 
for local consumption and qualifying for tax and customs exemptions or reductions would be 
prohibited unless the customs duties and taxes to which the exemption initially applied, upon entry 
into the national territory, are paid at the time of re -exportation.  
3.2.1   Registration and customs procedures  
3.45.  The following registration procedures are prescribed for the exportation of goods for 
commercial purposes: the commercial export declaration to be filed, free of charge and for statistical 
purposes, with the Ministry responsible for trade; the customs export declaration, filed with Customs 
(which must be accompanied by the following documents46: phytosanitary certificate, certificate of 
origin, commercial invoice, dispatch note and packing list ); and a foreign exchange undertaking, 
endorsed by the bank with which the transaction is domiciled, in order to ensure the repatriation of 
export earnings from countries outside CEMAC and their conversion into CFAF within 30  days of 
shipment of the goods.  
3.46.  Exports of wood products were subject to the BIVAC verification programme from 2005 to 
2019 ( Section 4.1.6). Payment for the ECTN ( Section 3.2.1), also due upon exportation, combined 
with the charges levied by BIVAC, used to result in duplication. In addi tion, at EUR  5 per tonne or 
cubic metre (t/m3) for coffee in bulk, bales of cotton and tobacco, the ECTN rates seem high. For 
diamonds and gold, the ECTN costs 2.5 % of the export value; the rate is EUR  50 per TEU container 
and EUR  100 per FEU container.  
3.2.2   Export taxes and duties  
3.47.  Exports of goods are subject to numerous taxes, which further reduce exporters' profits and 
incentive to export (Table 3.6). Exports are subject to the zero rate of VAT.  
Table 3.6 Export taxes and duties  
Product  Tax Rate  
All products  Levy on computer equipment for finance (REIF)  0.50%  
Flat-rate minimum tax (IMF)  2%/3%  
ECTN  2.5%  
Scanner management fee (RGS)  0.25%  
 Shippers' Council charge  0.25% 
 Scanning fee (RDS)  0.25%  
Raw materials  Export duty  2% 
Sesame  Fee CFAF 60 per kg  
Livestock  Exit duty  CFAF 1,000 per 
head of cattle  
CFAF 500 per head 
of small livestock  
Live wild animals  Export tax  Amount per head  
(not available)  
Fish Exit duty  5% 
Manufactures  Exit duty  5% 
Mining products  .. .. 
Gold Exit duty  1.25%  
 Levy on computer equipment for finance (REIF)  0.50%   
Mining Industry Development Project (PDSM)  0.50%  
Diamonds  Exit duty  1.50%  
 Levy on computer equipment for finance (REIF)  0.25%   
Mining Industry Development Project (PDSM)  0.50%  
 Permanent Secretariat of the Kimberley Process (SPPK)  0.50%  
 
46 Decree No. 86.328 of 20 November 1986.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 326 - 
  Product  Tax Rate  
 Flat-rate minimum tax (IMF)  1.25%  
Wood products  .. .. 
Rough wood  Export duty  8% 
Sawn timber  Export duty  4% 
Articles of wood  Export duty  1% 
.. Not available.  
Source:  Information provided by the authorities.  
3.2.3   Export prohibitions and controls  
3.48.  The Central African Republic states that the country complies with the Convention on 
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).47 The Ministry of Water, 
Forestry, Hunting and Fishing issues CITES export permits for all legally obtained animal trophies 
and bubinga wood.  
3.49.  In addition, CAR has been participating in the Kimberley Process for the trade in rough 
diamonds since Ap ril 2003. A health certification system is, in principle, in place for all livestock 
species. Raw (green) coffee must meet quality standards in order to be exported. These measures 
are described in Section 4.  
3.2.4   Export subsidies and promotion  
3.50.  The zero rate of  VAT and the various suspensory procedures provided for at the Community 
level are applied. CAR has not established any export benefits, with the exception of tax and customs 
benefits upon importation for the products of firms that have been approved under  the Investment 
Charter or that have concluded a convention. CAR has no protected customs territories.  
3.3  Measures affecting production and trade  
3.3.1   Standards, technical regulations and accreditation  
3.51.  The Central African Republic has had a national regulatory fra mework for standardization and 
quality management since the enactment, in May  2019, of the Law on Standardization 
(Law No. 19.004 of 10  May 2019 on standardization, certification, accreditation and promotion of 
quality in CAR). In addition, Law No.  19.008 establishing the metrology system in CAR was enacted 
on 24  June 2019. However, the draft law establishing the National Standardization Agency is 
currently being considered for adoption by the National Assembly. Once established, the Agency will 
be the only  institution authorized to adopt international standards and formulate national standards. 
For the moment, the Ministry of Trade and Industry includes a Directorate for Standardization and 
Quality tasked with drawing up and implementing the Government's po licy on standardization, 
accreditation and quality promotion.48 CAR is no longer a member of the International Organization 
for Standardization. Moves towards its reinstatement are apparently under way.  
3.52.  In the absence of national rules, imports must in pri nciple be accompanied by a certificate of 
conformity (CdC) with international technical regulations. In practice, for 99 products for which no 
list is available, the certificate is issued by the Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS) and made 
available to the supplier or importer, which requests it from the SGS of the supplier country.  
3.53.  Product quality controls are sometimes carried out by local laboratories, in the event of doubts 
about products' compliance with international regulations. According to the C EMAC Commission, CAR 
has several laboratories, including some of international standard, such as the Pasteur Institute and 
the Laboratory of Biological and Agricultural Sciences for Development (LASBAD), which is part of 
the Faculty of Sciences of the Univ ersity of Bangui (Table 3.7).  
 
47 Viewed at: https://www.cites.org/fra/cms/index.php/component/cp/country/CF . 
48 Law No. 19.354 sets out the legal framework for the organization of standardi zation and the 
promotion of quality, in accordance with the CEMAC regulation on quality policy.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 327 - 
  Table 3.7 Principal laboratories and types of analysis conducted, 2020  
Laboratory  Research type  
Pasteur Institute  Biomedical analyses – quality control  
 Laboratory of Biological and 
Agricultural Sciences for 
Development (LASBAD)  General requirements concerning testing and calibration 
laboratories (ISO  17025); microbiology of food, animal feed and 
water (ISO  11133); methods for the enumeration of clostridi um 
and of β-glucuronidase Escherichia  coli and for the detection of 
salmonella; specific rules for the preparation of meats, meat 
products and fishery products; enumeration of presumptive 
coliforms and of yeasts and moulds in foodstuffs; quantitative 
analy sis of fats, peroxides, vitamin A, iron, zinc, raw fibre and 
aflatoxins  
Office for the regulation of the 
marketing and control of processing 
of agricultural products (ORCCPA)  Quality control of foodstuffs and packaging  
National Laboratory for Clinical 
Biology and Public Health  Biological diagnosis – training and retraining – agri-food research 
and quality control  
Source:  CEMAC Quality Infrastructure project.  
3.54.  There is no legislation that permits the taking of samples in order to conduct tests p rior to 
the entry of goods into the territory of CAR, except in the context of food safety ( Section 3.3.2). 
Since the last TPR, CAR has transferred Article 5.3 of the TFA, on testing procedures, from category 
B to category C, indicating that technical assi stance is needed in the form of the development of a 
legal framework for standardization, accreditation and quality.  
3.55.  Certification in CAR is limited to coffee and is carried out by the ORCCPA. The public list of 
accredited laboratories and their specialism s is not available.  
3.56.  CAR is a party to several multilateral treaties on environmental protection.49 Their 
implementation remains a challenge.  
3.3.2   Sanitary and phytosanitary measures  
3.57.  Generally speaking, legislation on food safety, animal health and pest and plant-disease 
control is obsolete or non -existent. In that connection, the explanation provided by CAR to the 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Committee) in 2006 revealed the 
magnitude of the challenges faced by the country in implemen ting the SPS Agreement and its 
technical assistance needs.50 Since its accession to the WTO, very few (or even no) country 
representatives have participated in SPS Committee meetings. The Ministry of Health is responsible 
for applying measures in relation to human health and food, while the Ministry of Agriculture is 
responsible for phytosanitary measures. The latter is also responsible for safeguarding animal health. 
Both ministries discharge these duties in cooperation with the Ministry responsible for tr ade. 
3.58.  CAR has made a total of three notifications to the SPS Committee since 201351: Ordinance 
No. 83.069 of 10  November  1983 prohibiting the marketing of spoilt or toxic foodstuffs; the Law of 
1965 regulating animal husbandry; and a general prohibition on the importation of poultry and 
poultry products. None of the measures taken by CAR has been the subject of a specific trade 
concern notified to the Committee. The Ministry responsible for trade is the national authority 
responsible for such notifications a s well as being the SPS enquiry point.52 The lack of an operational 
SPS system or of adequate infrastructure are two of the main constraints on the development of 
trade and the quality of local products.  
3.59.  Upon importation, tests are generally conducted at t he request of Customs in the event of 
doubt about food safety, but procedures seem to be ad hoc . The importation of some types of alcohol 
is prohibited. The importation of plants requires a phytosanitary certificate issued by the authorities 
 
49 Viewed at: https://www.informea.org/fr/node/44/parties . 
50 WTO doc ument G/SPS/GEN/644 of 22 March 2006. Viewed at: 
https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=R:/G/SPS/GEN644.pdf . 
51 SPS Information Management System of the WTO. Viewed at: http://spsims.wto.org.  
52 Viewed at: 
http://spsims.wto.org/fr/EnquiryPointsNotificationAuthorities/Search?countryCode=C140&filter= . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 328 - 
  of the country  of origin.53 In principle, prior authorization is required in order to sell pesticides and 
insecticides in the Central African Republic. Products of animal origin must undergo sanitary import 
control and be accompanied by a sanitary certificate issued by the authorities of the country of 
origin.54 
3.60.  CAR is a member of the Codex Alimentarius Commission of the Food and Agriculture 
Organization of the United Nations55; of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH); and of 
the International Plant Protection Convention.56 Since 2011, the country has had a National Codex 
Alimentarius Committee.57 The WOAH conducted a performance evaluation (PVS) of CAR's veterinary 
services in 2010.58 It found that the country lacks a public animal health system that  meets 
international standards, i.e. one providing for sanitary controls on the quality of foodstuffs of animal 
origin for local consumption or for importation and exportation.  
3.3.3   Incentives  
3.61.  CAR has not notified subsidies or aid to the WTO. The main incentive s relate to the benefits 
granted to enterprises approved under the Investment Charter ( Section  2.4) or the mining regimes 
(Section  4.3). In addition, promotional benefits and exemptions are granted as incentives for large 
enterprises, under either their es tablishment agreements or a bilateral agreement.  
3.3.4   Competition and price control regime  
3.62.  Apart from CEMAC regulations on the matter ( Common  Report , Section  3.2.2), the provisions 
of which are, in principle, directly applicable in all member States, CAR had no  national competition 
regime until the new Commercial Code was enacted in 2016. The Code regulates inter alia  unlawful 
agreements, abuses of dominant position and economic concentrations that materially reduce 
competition. Decree No.  20.332 of 10  September  2020 establishing the operating procedures of the 
National Competition Commission has been signed.  
3.63.  The 2016 Commercial Code stipulates that prices are free and determined by competition 
alone. However, within the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Supply  and Distribution Control Unit 
monitors the regular stock of staple goods and medicines, the prices of which are, in principle, 
approved, fixed or monitored. A joint commission for price approval was established in 2012, in 
order to facilitate the applicat ion of an  Order of 11  April 2012 freezing the prices of certain staple 
products in Bangui, Bimbo and Bégoua . According to the authorities, a new decree is currently being 
prepared. In total, 30 products, divided into 3 groups, are being monitored:  
• The firs t group is made up of foodstuffs: oils; milk of any kind (liquid not containing added 
sugar, concentrated containing or not containing added sugar); salt; rice; wheat flour; 
bread; fish products; deep -frozen products; yeast; additives and improvement agent s; 
preserves; pasta; margarine; and coffee.  
• The second group is made up of construction materials: cement; sheets and plates; 
concrete reinforcing bars and rods; and nails.  
• The third group is made up of sundry goods: household soap; medicines; machetes; sc hool 
supplies; hoes ; bicycles; and mopeds.  
3.64.  Before any offering for sale on the domestic market, these products are subject to the prior 
approval procedure.  
3.65.  With a view to regulation of the market, checks are continuously conducted on the basis of 
documents  identifying the person responsible and the products to be checked, their provenance, 
 
53 Law No. 62/350 of 4 January 1963.  
54 Law No. 65/61 of 3 June 1965.  
55 Enquiry point: Ministry of Trade and Industry. Viewed at: http://www.fao.org/fao -who-
codexalimentarius/about -codex/members/detail/fr/c/15573/ . 
56 Viewed at: https://www.ippc.int/fr/countries/central -african -republic/ . 
57 Established by Interministerial Order No. 0045 of 18 March 2011.  
58 Viewed at: https://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/S upport_to_OIE_Members/pdf/PVS -Report -
RCA.pdf . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 329 - 
  their quantities, the prices charged, the company's geographic location, etc. The checks are also 
conducted on the basis of statistics provided by the checkpoints of the Directorate -General of 
Commerce, Competition and Consumption.  
3.66.  As described in Section  4, price controls apply to petroleum products, electricity and postal 
and telecommunications services. A minimum purchase price is also one of the accompanying 
measures i n the coffee and cotton sectors.  
3.3.5   State trading, state -owned enterprises and privatization  
3.67.  CAR has not notified the WTO of any state trading enterprises within the meaning of 
Article  XVII of the GATT. Moreover, the list of its state -owned enterprises is not  available.  
3.3.6   Government procurement  
3.68.  In 2008, CAR reformed its government procurement management framework.59 The 
2008 Government Procurement Code, described in the previous TPR60, transposes Community 
provisions and aims at strengthening the role of contracting authorities in the procurement process; 
increasing competition, streamlining and modernizing the procurement process; and better 
monitoring and reducing arbitrariness. It establishes the principle of separating the award of public 
contracts fro m the functions of control and regulation of the system (Article 109). The different 
functions are distributed between three bodies: the Government Procurement Regulatory Authority, 
the Directorate -General of Government Procurement and the Procurement Serv ices. In 
January  2020, the website of the Ministry of Finance and Budget contained the applicable regulations, 
invitations to tender and some contract award notices. The Central African Republic is neither a 
signatory nor an observer under the plurilateral  WTO Agreement on Government Procurement.  
3.69.  The provisions of the Government Procurement Code apply to procurement transactions with 
an estimated value equal to or higher than the thresholds specified in the 2009 Budget  Law 
(Table  3.8). The choice of applica ble procedure is determined on the basis of a procedural handbook.  
Table 3.8 Methods of awarding public contracts in the Central African Republic, 
in accordance  with the thresholds specified in the 2009 Budget  Law 
Contract 
category  Amount  
(CFAF  million)  Method  Preliminary review by 
Directorate -General of 
Government Procurement  
Works  500  International competitive bidding  All contracts  
 25 < 500  Domestic competitive bidding  All contracts  
 1 < 25  Consultation of at least 3 entrepreneurs  No contract  
 < 1  Request for quotations (at least 3 entrepreneurs)  No contract  
Supplies/  
services  > 250  International competitive bidding  All contracts  
10 < 250  Domestic competitive bidding  All contracts  
> 1 < 10  Consultation of at least 3 suppliers  No contract  
< 1  Request for quotations  No contract  
Intellectual 
services  25  International consultation  All contracts  
10 < 5  Domestic consultation  All contracts  
1 < 10  Consultation of at least 3 consultants  All contracts  (approval of ToR)  
< 1 Consultation of 3 individual consultants  No contract  
Source:  Handbook of government procurement and outsourcing of public services, March  2009.  
3.70.  Open tendering (whether or not preceded by pre -qualification) is the rule. Use of any other 
method of procurement (such as direct agreements or closed bidding) must be exceptional, justified 
by the contracting authority and authorized by the Directorate -General  of Government Procurement. 
Calls for tenders are required to be published in the national and international press (Article 29), in 
at least one mass -circulation daily newspaper and, if necessary, on publicly displayed notices. The 
notices are also posted on the website of the Directorate -General of Government Procurement.  
3.71.  Article 64 of the Code provides that a preference margin may be attributed to a tender in the 
case of companies based in the Central African Republic or in another CEMAC member State, though 
 
59 Law No. 08.017 of 6 June 2008 establishing the Government Procurement Code in CAR. Online 
information from the Directorate -General of Government Procurement.  
60 WTO document WT/TPR/S/285/Rev.1 of 12 December 2013.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 330 - 
  this margin may not exceed 15 % for domestic companies and 10 % for CEMAC companies. As regards 
subcontracting, a preference margin of 5 % is granted to companies planning to outsource at least 
30% of their tenders to a company from a CEMAC member State (Article 26).  
3.3.7   Protection of intellectual property rights  
3.72.  The Central A frican Republic has been a signatory to the Convention Establishing the World 
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) since 23  August  1978, as well as to some of the treaties 
administered by WIPO. Like the other CEMAC countries, CAR is a member of the Af rican Intellectual 
Property Organization (AIPO), established by the Bangui Agreement on 2  March  1997. In 1999 and 
again in 2015, the Bangui Agreement was revised in Bamako, Mali. CAR notified the revised 
Bangui  Agreement to the WTO in 1999. The Industrial Property Directorate (DPI), which forms part 
of the Ministry responsible for industry, acts as the National Liaison Structure (SNL) with AIPO. Its 
main task is to transmit to AIPO applications for industrial property titles, such as patents, utility 
models , new plant varieties, marks, trade names and geographical indications originating in the 
national territory. The SNL also coordinates activities promoting awareness of the importance of 
industrial property in the Central African Republic.  
3.73.  The number of ap plications, by year and by type of title, filed with the SNL since the CAR's 
last TPR is set out in Table 3.9. For some industrial property titles, namely new plant varieties and 
geographical indications, the filings have not yet been registered. However, the number of other 
titles is increasing unevenly. It should be pointed out that, according to the annual activity reports, 
80% of protection applications filed with AIPO come from abroad (international applications), with 
the remainder coming from AIPO me mber States. In the case of the Central African Republic, almost 
all applications for protection are domestic applications.61 
Table 3.9 Number of applications, by year and type of title, filed with the SNL of CAR, 
2010 -20 
Years/titles  2010  2011  2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  
Patents  1 3 0 5 .. .. 2 2 3 1 4 
Marks  1 0 2 5 0 0 5 1 5 5 1 
Utility models  0 0 0 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
Industrial design  0 0 0 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
Trade name  11 13 18 5 8 35 33 72 52 254 35 
.. Not available.  
Source:  National Liaison Structure (SNL).  
3.74.  In 2016, the Central African Copyright Bureau (BUCADA) was suspended. The reform 
undertaken with support from WIPO led to the creation of a new Central African Copyright Bureau, 
under Law No.  21.0013 of 4  December  2021. The new Bureau is not yet operational.  
3.75.  Penalties for infringements of copyright and related rights are governed by Annex 7 to the 
revised Bangui Agreement. Lack of awareness of the revised Agreeme nt seems to be the reason for 
the lack of litigation before the courts.  
3.76.  The importation of products under copyright and related rights is subject to payment of 
copyright fees before customs clearance, which is followed by the issuance of an authorization to 
the importer. The most frequent intellectual property infringements in the Central African Republic 
are counterfeiting and piracy, with the areas most affected being music, the audiovisual sector and 
literary works.
 
61 Annual reports of AIPO and the SNL of the Central African Republic.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
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  4  TRADE POLICY BY SECTOR  
4.1  Agriculture, livest ock farming, forestry and fisheries  
4.1.1   Overview  
4.1.  Agriculture (including fishery and wood products) is the bedrock of the Central African 
economy, generating 75 % of the food products consumed in the country and providing livelihoods 
to 77.1 % of the working popu lation in 2020.62 Its share in GDP dropped over the period 2012 -21 
from 39 % to 33.5 % (Table  1.1)63, as did its share in trade ( Section  1.3). Once a net food exporter, 
the country is now an importer. Between 2018 and 2020, approximately 54 % of the value of CAR 
imports comprised agricultural products and  foodstuffs.64 
4.2.  With its abundant rainfall, albeit declining in many regions, and an extensive and dense river 
system65, CAR is suitable for many crops (Table  4.1) and for forestry and livestoc k farming (see 
below). CAR has an estimated 47  billion  m3/year of surface water and groundwater resources, of 
which just 4 % are used for economic or social purposes; 1.9  million hectares of hydro -agricultural 
development potential, of which less than 1,000  hectares are in use; 15  million hectares of arable 
land, of which a mere 5 % (700,000  hectares) are in use; and 16  million hectares of pastureland, of 
which 56 % are in use.  
Table 4.1 Main agricultural products, 2012 -21 
 Quantity of production  in thousands of tonnes  Growth rate 
p.a. 2012 -21 
(%) 2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Cassava, fresh  684 672 710 710 712 730 749 774 805 822 2.1 
Yams  460 470 478 480 483 489 484 486 486 485 0.6 
Groundnuts , unshelled  149 162 122 116 135 150 150 127 132 150 0.1 
Bananas  128 129 130 132 135 130 140 140 140 141 1.1 
Taro (Colocasia)  125 130 132 133 135 137 135 136 136 136 0.9 
Sugar, cane  99 100 123 127 132 115 115 126 129 130 3.0 
Maize (corn)  162 124 80 80 92 90 90 104 108 90 -6.3 
Plantains  85 85 85 86 87 88 88 88 88 89 0.5 
Fresh vegetables, n.e.s  70 70 71 72 73 74 75 74 75 75 0.7 
Pulses, n.e.s  37 37 47 47 50 47 45 45 49 50 3.5 
Sesame  28 28 13 10 12 22 32 44 45 46 5.5 
Sorghum  46 39 31 31 29 30 30 31 33 30 -4.5 
Pumpkins, squash and 
gourds  20 21 23 22 21 22 23 24 25 25 2.5 
Rice  42 10 13 10 12 12 12 13 13 13 -12.4 
Millet  10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 0.0 
Source:  FAOSTAT. Viewed at: https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL ; and information provided by the 
authorities.  
4.3.  At present, the main purpose of the agricultural trade policy is food security .66 The Government 
also aims to increase exports and decrease imports. Other priorities include supplying seeds and 
fertilizer to farmers; providing technical support to restart production; restoring markets in 
agricultural products for trade development, in particular the development of markets for the beef 
subsector; reviving and organizing markets in production areas; repairing rural roads in the context 
of highly labour -intensive projects; and the construction of drying and storage premises. The lack 
of such premises alters the quality of agricultural and livestock products and jeopardizes 
the potential earnings of producers. The intervention of the World Food Programme  (WFP) focused 
more on local purchases of rice and beans. It consisted in disbursing f unds to beneficiaries rather 
than imported food products, which stimulated demand on local markets.  
 
62 COFACE . Viewed at: République centrafricaine / Etudes économiques - Coface . 
63 COFACE . Viewed at: République centrafricaine / Etudes économiques - Coface . 
64 FAO. Viewed at: https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#country/37 . 
65 Viewed at: http://www.fao.org/3/a -i7743f.pdf . 
66 Viewed at: http://www.fao.org/3/a -i7743f.pdf . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
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  4.4.  The main institutions directly involved in the agricultural sector are the Ministry  responsible 
for rural development  (MDR) and the Ministry responsible for  water and forests (see below). The 
Office for the regulation of the marketing and control of processing of agricultural products  (ORCCPA) 
is responsible for product marketing. Its mission is to regulate the marketing and control the 
packaging of agricultu ral products.  
4.5.  Coffee prices are set by a technical committee for regulation of the coffee subsector, created 
by Order No.  057/MPMR/DGAAARH/DAF/SAJ of 27  November  2002. The ORCCPA collects London 
futures market data and draws up a draft of indicative domest ic prices, which is validated by 
committee members and endorsed by a joint order of the Ministers responsible for agriculture and 
trade, before they are broadcast on national radio.  
4.6.  The Central African Agricultural Development Agency and the National Lives tock Development 
Agency (see below) provide services to farmers and breeders. The Rural Education and Training 
Centre  (CREF) serves the rural population, and the Central African Agronomic Research 
Institute  (ICRA) develops seeds and improved technologies. The Chamber of agriculture, livestock, 
water, forestry, hunting and fishing and tourism represents the private sector.  
4.7.  The National Orientation and Steering Committee (CNOP) is responsible for defining strategic 
and policy guidelines for the coherent and e ffective implementation of the Priority Action Plan. It 
falls under the responsibility of the MDR and comprises technical and financial partners and 
representatives of farmers' and rural organizations, the private sector and civil society.  
4.1.2   Market access, d omestic support and export measures  
4.8.  MFN tariff protection is relatively high ( Common  Report , Section  3.1). However, the protection 
conferred by high customs duties is reduced by the equally high customs duties levied on inputs and 
on material and equipment  required for production (tools, small -scale mechanization, irrigation 
equipment, etc.), which does not reduce costs for the consumer. The main foods currently imported  
are vegetables and onions, broiler chickens and eggs, fish, rice and maize, banana and plantain, oil 
(particularly palm) and cake.  
4.9.  Internal taxes are also levied on agricultural products at the time of import (VAT, excise duties, 
Section  3.1.5). These taxes provide a significant additional margin of protection for the largely 
informal domes tic production sector, which is not subject to internal taxation. However, to reduce 
their costs, some staple goods are exempt from internal taxes, including upon importation 
(Table  3.3). 
4.10.  The export taxes levied on most of the main agricultural exports com plicate the export process 
and make it more expensive, creating distortions and inequalities between products; they also 
detract from the economic efficiency of  the agricultural sector and its growth and development 
prospects.  
4.11.  Quantitative  restrictions are  also in place on imports, as in the case of sugar and flour, which 
are generally subject to an import monopoly ( Sections 4.1.3.1 and 4.1.3.3 on sugar and coffee), 
and in the case of coffee, subject to seasonal quotas.  
4.12.  By contrast, in accordance with Commu nity provisions, trade in "local, unprocessed 
products"67, including those extracted, harvested, picked, hunted and/or fished, must be free of all 
customs taxes and duties ( Common  Report , Section  3). Yet, some of these local products are subject 
to an export duty of up to 2 % of the f.o.b. value (Table  3.6). 
4.13.  Produ cts are subject to various taxes upon importation and exportation (Tables 3.6 and 3.2).  
4.14.  CAR has made no notification to the WTO concerning its agricultural policy, and it is difficult 
to assess the level and nature of the support it provides to its agricul tural sector. Owing to limited 
 
67 These are mainly "live animals born and raised in the territory of a member State of the Union, 
products obtained from such live animals and their by -products, mineral products and products of plant origin 
from member  States, products from hunting and fishing activities practised there, and products extracted from 
the sea by vessels registered in a member State and flying the flag of that State." Viewed at: 
http://www.droit -afrique.com/upload/doc/cemac/CEMAC -Acte-1993-07-tarif-douanier.pdf . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 333 - 
  financial resources, however, it is highly likely that such support is virtually non -existent. 
Nevertheless, a gradual improvement in the security and political situation has enabled the 
government to allocate more resources to the agricultural sector and to food security. The effectively 
disbursed government budget rose from CFAF  206 million (EUR  314,000) in 2015 to 
CFAF 4.14 billion (EUR  6.7 million) in 2018, with the government commitment implementation rate 
increasing from  2% to 26 % in 2018. Between 2014 and 2018, technical and financial partners 
contributed approximately CFAF  66.7 billion, that is, 84.1 % of investments in the agricultural sector. 
This remains well below the estimated sector revival costs (Table  4.2). In mi d-2019, the World Bank 
launched a project worth EUR  23 million to increase the productivity of small -scale producers.68 
Table 4.2 Estimated agricultural revival costs, 2016 -18 
(USD  1 = CFAF  500) 
Strategic areas  2016  2017  2018  Total 2016 -18 
In USD  million  In CFAF  million  
Resilience, sustainable recovery of agro -pastoral 
activities and regional development  198 108 84 390 195,000  
Agriculture, a factor of national reconciliation  12 27 21 60 30,000  
Occupational integration and entrepreneurship 
among young people to modernize agriculture  16 36 28 80 40,000  
Agricultural governance and competitiveness of 
Central African agriculture  4 9 7 20 10,000  
Total  230 180 140 550 275,000  
Source:  Information provided by the authorities.  
4.15.  The main tax incentives specifically for farmers/breeders under the General Tax 
Code (2012  Budget  Law), and available to private investors, including foreigners where applicable, 
are the following:  
• a reduced corpora te tax rate (20 % instead of 30 %), but at least the minimum flat rate 
tax (IMF) of 0.5 % of turnover;  
• exemption from the tax on agricultural income derived from the working of land devoted 
exclusively to food crops; and  
• exemption from the business tax in the  case of trade in agricultural products with 
a turnover of less than CFAF  30 million.  
4.1.3   Policy in major agricultural subsectors  
4.16.  The main products that the government is seeking to promote are coffee, cocoa, rice, oil palm 
and groundnuts for import substituti on. The aim is to revive cotton growing as well, which has a 
knock -on effect on cassava cultivation. The authorities also intend to continue sesame exports, 
initiated with the Enhanced Integrated Framework Project in Basse -Kotto and Ouaka.  
4.1.3.1   Coffee  
4.17.  The gover nment is seeking to revive family coffee growing in order to improve and diversify 
producers' income. Coffee growers may either receive plants free of charge from ICRA or  obtain 
them from other producers. They then produce, harvest and dry the coffee. They  are required to 
sell their output to a cooperative or to buyers approved by the ORCCPA, responsible for the coffee 
subsector, at prices fixed by order of the MDR. The ORCCPA issues the required approvals to coffee 
exporters for a fee of CFAF  30,000 (EUR  46). Financial support in the amount of CFAF  250 million, 
allocated to the sector in 2018, is intended for the purchase of laboratory equipment.  
 
68 Viewed at: https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents -
reports/documentdetail/181071572429260 903/central -african -republic -africa -p165855 -car-agriculture -
recovery -and-agribusiness -development -support -project -aradsp -procurement -plan. WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 334 - 
  4.18.  Buyers process the coffee, mainly by hulling it, and then put it in bags for export. Coffee 
under the temporary admission regime is subject to the payment of CFAF  10/kg net after 
processing.69 
4.19.  Coffee from CAR must be marketed and exported through the  ORCCPA. The ORCCPA is also 
responsible for quality control and packaging. Work is under way within the ORCC PA to control and 
market other outputs, including food products. Export is the responsibility of the operators approved 
by the ORCCPA, which may also be  buyers. The ORCCPA proposes indicative coffee prices based on 
world prices at the start of every season . These indicative prices are then fixed by order of the MDR; 
the indicative price can be adjusted should world prices fluctuate by more than 10 %. 
4.20.  Coffee exports are not subject to either the export duty or the IMF, but rather to the 
0.5% REIF levy.  
4.1.3.2   Cotton  
4.21.  Cotton is mainly grown on a small scale in central and  north -western regions. In 2011, China's 
State Development Investment Corporation  (SDIC) entered into a 10 -year cotton production 
contract with the Office of the President of the Central African Republ ic. The SDIC opened a cotton 
ginning plant with a capacity of 250  tonnes per day in December  2012, and an oil mill was set to 
start operations in June  2013. Interrupted by conflicts, production apparently resumed in 2016. The 
National Cotton Office was est ablished in 2019 by Law No.  19.00.10 of 23  July 2017.  
4.22.  Seeds are produced by ICRA and made available free of charge to growers; it  also provides 
inputs (on credit). Growers are organized into Cotton Producers' Groups  (GPCs). Each GPC organizes 
its own colle ction of seed cotton and, in return for the service provided, receives fees of  CFAF 4,320 
per tonne. The SDIC buys cotton at the indicative price set in May every year. The final price is 
determined in October of each year. Loans for inputs (fertilizer, in secticide, etc.) are deducted 
directly from growers' income. The SDIC transports seed cotton to one of two plants (Bossangoa or 
Bambari) for ginning. Cotton fibre is  exported to Cameroon, while the Cotton Unit sells dehusked 
cotton seed to HUSACA (a privat e company) at CFAF  25/kg for oil production.  
4.23.  Financial support in the amount of CFAF  200 million was allocated to the sector in 2018, part 
of which is for the purchase of inputs.  
4.1.3.3   Sugar  
4.24.  Currently, CAR's principal objective in the sugar subsector is to prote ct and promote 
employment in production areas. However, the measures taken to this end at the border lead to 
higher prices and shortages affecting the entire population. In 2017, the price of a 50  kg bag of 
sugar spiked from CFAF  30,000 to CFAF  48,000, a 6 0% increase. At the end of 2022, the price of a 
bag of sugar was CFAF  34,000.  
4.25.  The chief trade measure on sugar is an import quota. An agreement signed with the Central 
African Republic on 25  November  2013 granted the privately owned company Sucrière en 
Afrique  (SUCAF -RCA), which belongs to the French group SOMDIAA, 80 % of the import  quota, with 
the remainder (20 %) distributed between domestic applicants. However, customs statistics show 
that, in December  2019, a single enterprise held the entire sugar import quota.  
4.26.  An Interministerial Body for the  Regulation of the Sugar Market (ORMS ) used to set quarterly 
import quotas according to SUCAF production, estimated consumption, re -exports and stocks.70 
Within the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Supply and Distribution Control Unit monitors the 
regular stock of staple goods, including s ugar. The objective that CAR has set for itself is to ultimately 
achieve full liberalization of the sugar subsector.71 In light of the recent developments in the 
subsector, restrictions are de facto suspended ( Section  3.1.6).  
 
69 Interministerial Order No.  029/MFB/MAE/MICA of 11  January  1996.  
70 Prime Ministe rial Order No.  031 of 31  March  2008 creating an Interministerial Body for the  Regulation 
of the Sugar Market in the Central African Republic (ORMS) and defining its powers.  
71 CEMAC trade policy indicator monitoring table (information provided by CEMAC), 20 21. WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
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  4.27.  The import monopoly had made c onsumer price control necessary. Consumer prices were 
therefore approved by an Order issued by the Ministry responsible for trade. In January  2020, sugar 
was trading at over CFAF  1,050/kg, well above the price of CFAF  850/kg approved in March  2012.  
4.28.  CAR's s ugar policy is in line with that of the entire CEMAC zone, which taxes (non -CEMAC) 
MFN sugar imports exorbitantly, making it less competitive. Meanwhile, the production capacity of 
sugar companies in the CEMAC zone is insufficient to meet subregional needs . As a derogation from 
this regulation, the Government of the Central African Republic provisionally reduced the customs 
duty on sugar from 30 % to 10% (rate brought back to 30 % in the new protocol that SUCAF refused 
to sign).  
4.29.  All in all, the sugar policy i n CAR did not achieve its objectives of sustaining the company and 
preserving jobs. In July  2018, SUCAF was closed down for failure to pay CFAF  300 million 
(EUR 457,000) in VAT, after the 2018  Budget  Law increased the VAT applicable to the company from 
5% to the normal rate of 19 %. SUCAF's monopoly thus came to an end.  
4.1.3.4   Edible and sesame oils  
4.30.  The government intervenes (by approval) in determining prices owing to the existence of the 
Central African Palm Oil Company (CENTRAPALM), a state -owned company created  in 1975 that 
produces palm oil from 2,500 hectares of palm trees. In 2019, CENTRAPALM produced 156  tonnes 
of oil out of a national total of 360  tonnes of production. CENTRAPALM sells oil to the privately owned 
companies Huilerie et savonnerie centrafricai ne (HUSACA) (Central African Oil and Soap Mill) and 
SAVEX for soap manufacture.  
4.31.  Production resumed in 2017 owing to a loan of CFAF  4 billion (approximately EUR  6 million) 
from the Central African States  Development Bank (CASBD ) to finance an agro -industria l oil palm 
complex as part of the Palme d'or  (Golden Palm) project. This project covers a concession of 
16,000  exploitable hectares for oil palm growing in Mbaïki, located a  hundred or so kilometres 
south -east of Bangui, the capital. Expected production is  15,000  tonnes; Husaca would consume 
6,000, leaving 9,000 for local needs and export. CAR currently imports palm oils from Cameroon, 
the Democratic Republic of the Congo  (DRC) and non -African countries.72 
4.32.  Palm oil production was part of CAR's first "Tier 2 " project under  the Enhanced Integrated 
Framework Programme ( Section  2.2), together with maize and sesame. Sesame is one of the only 
products to have seen increased production during the period. To export sesame, approval is 
required from the ORCCPA, which  charges a fee of CFAF  60/kg; registration in the Trade Register is 
also required ( Section  2.4). Work is in progress on national and international price regulation. The 
price varies by zone, depending on transport and type of production.  
4.33.  According to the I SIC definition, the simple average of the tariffs applied in the edible fats 
and oils industry is 20.8 %, which is below the average rate levied on inputs. This is likely 
to discourage production.  
4.1.4   Livestock products  
4.1.4.1   General  
4.34.  In 2012, livestock breeding contr ibuted around 4 % of GDP (Table  1.1), and 25 % of domestic 
production was exported. International trade is currently limited to some cattle and goats exported 
live to Congo and Cameroon, whereas some hides and skins are exported to Cameroon. 
Transhumance fro m Chad and Sudan to CAR in 2020 ended due to the closure of borders separating 
Sudan, Chad and CAR.  
4.35.  Breeders were particularly hard hit by conflicts in CAR, which undermined the entire pastoral 
system, from production techniques to international trade. Since 2018, however, land use 
agreement contracts had allowed some semi -nomadic breeders to return to central CAR.  
 
72 Viewed at: http://centrafrique -presse.over -blog.com/2017/04/la -centrafrique -relance -sa-production -
d-huile-de-palme.html . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 336 - 
  4.1.4.2   Trade regulation  
4.36.  The regulatory framework for livestock farming dates from 196573 and also in part 
from the 1975 import and export regulations.74 The sector is supervised by the Ministry of Livestock 
and Animal Health, which has a website.75 A 2017 -21 road map was published for the revival of 
livestock breeding in CAR, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Livestock and Animal Health, 
and in partnership with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization  (FAO). Until recently, 
fundraising for its implementation was still in progress.  
4.37.  A number of entities are responsible for the sector's development. Th ey generally obtain their 
financing through taxes and levies charged at border crossings, particularly for exports. Other taxes, 
fees and charges collected include the following:  
• The National Livestock Development Agency (ANDE) controls the quality of anim al 
products and livestock health, which includes conducting health inspections and training 
breeders. It represents CAR within the OIE. The ANDE levies the quality control tax at a 
rate of CFAF  50/kg of imported meat (of any kind), compared with  CFAF 10/kg  for meat 
(of any kind) produced locally or exported.76 It also collects the health inspection tax77 
and the export tax, in the amount of CFAF  5,000;  
• CAR is a member of the Economic Commission on Cattle, Meat and Fishery Resources 
(CEBEVIRHA). Exporters mu st purchase the CEBEVIRHA passport (CFAF  50/head of 
cattle); the health inspection costs CFAF  2,000/head (CFAF  1,000/head for small 
livestock). However, these passports only accompany cattle transported by barge to 
Brazzaville and do not cover cattle expor ted live to Cameroon78; 
• The National Federation of Central African Stockbreeders (FNEC), which supervises 
breeders and provides veterinary support/advisory services, levies CFAF  2,000/head;  
• The Interprofessional Livestock Development Fund (FIDE), which dat es back to 1995, 
levies the national market tax, paid on any purchase of livestock (CFAF  2,000/head). In 
2007, the FIDE was scheduled to be replaced by the Agropastoral Development Fund 
(FDAP); and  
• The Federation of Livestock Traders levies CFAF  1,000/head . 
4.38.  Restoring markets for the cattle subsector is a priority. With CFAF  5.3 billion in financing from 
the African Development Bank  (AfDB), a new cattle market was opened in January  2020.79 The 
Project to support the relaunching of the urban and peri -urban br eeding industry in the Central 
African Republic (PARFEC), financed by the EU, aims to improve food security for the people of 
Bangui and surrounding areas.  
4.1.4.3   Livestock by -products  
4.39.  The State Slaughterhouse Management Company (SEGA) is responsible for public 
slaughterhouses, including the one in Bangui, which slaughters between 150 and 170  animals per 
day. Only the Bangui slaughterhouse has cold rooms, which were operating in December  2019 by 
virtue of AfDB support. Modern butcher's shops and meat processing un its are few in  number, and 
their activities are not regulated.  
 
73 Law No. 65/61 of 3 June 1965.  
74 Decree No. 75/079 of 15 February 1975.  
75 Viewed at: https://www.gouv.cf/les -ministres/87/ministre -de-ielevage -et-de-la-sante -animale . 
76 Order No. 0018/MPMR/CAB/2001 of 25 April 2001.  
77 Viewed at: https://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Support_to_OIE_Members/pdf/PVS -Report -
RCA.pdf . 
78 Interministerial Order No.  0020/2001 of 25  April 2001.  
79 Viewed at: https://centrafrique -presse.info/article/13741/centrafrique -inauguration -du-nouveau -
marche -a-betail -a-bouboui -dans-l-ombella -m-poko. WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 337 - 
  4.40.  The import customs tariff applicable to cattle on the hoof is 30 %, for bovine meat it is 20 % 
and for cattle hides 10 %; this points to a negative tariff escalation that could discourage the 
processing of  animal products.  
4.1.5   Fisheries and aquaculture  
4.41.  The Ministry of the Environment, Sustainable Development, Water, Forests, Hunting and 
Fishing has as its declared ambition to encourage investment, including from abroad, in the CAR 
fisheries sector, par ticularly in the Oubangui and Sangha basins.  
4.42.  Fishery products are subject to high MFN customs duties (around 25 %), which does not 
encourage improvements to competitiveness for export to neighbouring countries. In practice, 
contrary to Community provisions,  fish is not generally accepted as a local product by the customs 
authorities of ECCAS and CEMAC countries. The tariff protection rate for (frozen or fresh) fish under 
the CEMAC CET is 30 %, plus an excise duty of 25 % and an IMF of 3 %. This product is also subject 
to 19% VAT. As a local product, Central African fish should be eligible for duty -free import and export 
in the CEMAC zone, and be subject only to internal taxes. The draft Central African Fishing and 
Aquaculture Code, described in the 2006 TPR, was  enacted in 2020.  
4.1.6   Forestry products  
4.1.6.1   Overview  
4.43.  CAR has around 23  million hectares of forest, covering close to 37 % of its total surface area. 
Industrial forestry operations largely take place in the forest massif in the south -west. In 2021, 
13 forestry companies were registered for official production, with 2 operating teak plantations. 
Eighteen  permits were granted f or small -scale production. Average annual production over the 
period 2011 -21 was roughly 450,000  m³. Exports of rough wood  and sawn timber during the same 
period were around 210,000  m³ and 240,000  m³, respectively. The forestry sector accounted for 
2.4% of GDP in 2021 and 13 % of the country's export revenue in 2016. The main destinations for 
Central African rough wood  exports in 2021 were China (39 %) and Germany (19 %). Those positions 
were reversed for sawn timber exports, with Germany (31 %) coming ahead of  China (23 %). 
4.44.  Rough wood  production fluctuated between 324,283  m3 in 2010 and 422,812  m3 in 2019. 
According to the authorities, the outlook remains dependent on substantial financing for the 
acquisition of modern processing equipment. Industrialization wou ld require investments in 
processing tools to create added value as well as to boost employment and government revenue.  
4.45.  In the domestic market, a marketing system dating from 1992 and amended in 2006, which 
distinguishes between producer, wholesaler, retai ler and consumer, is no longer being applied, and 
sales are unrestricted. In October  2010, a government study on the marketing of wood highlighted 
the relative scarcity of wood products in the domestic market. Nevertheless, the small -scale and 
Community pe rmits envisaged under the Forestry Code have not been allocated, which explains the 
low production capacity and unmet product demand.  
4.46.  Wood is CAR's main agricultural export (EUR  30.5 million in 2018 and EUR  32.2 million in 
2019). The State derives about a third of its total tax revenue from this export. Of the 13 approved 
companies, 3 account for 71 % of exports and are all foreign -owned (SEFCA with 31 % of total 
Central  African wood sales, Timberland with 28 % and Centrabois with 12 %).80 Their activities have  
continued during the conflicts.81 
4.47.  Wood for export travels some 1,500  kilometres by truck to the port of Douala, a process 
plagued by numerous obstacles (see below). The leading export market is China (48,587  m3 in 
2011), followed by  Germany  (48,427  m3) and  France (30,006  m3). 
 
80 Rappo rt annuel 2016.  Viewed at: https://flegtvpafacility.org/wp -content/uploads/2022/05/CAR -VPA-
AR-2016-FR.pdf . 
81 Viewed at: https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2015/07/15/centrafrique -le-commerce -de-bois-a-
t-il-alimente -la-guerre_4683280_3212.h tml. WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 338 - 
  4.1.6.2   Market regulation  
4.48.  The 2008 Forestry Code refers to sustainable forest management in the context of 
development plans, in accordance with the 2005  Treaty on the conservation and sustainable 
management of Central African forest ecosystems, which established the Central African Forests 
Commission  (COMIFAC). Accordingly, Customs collects a "COMIFAC levy" of 0.1 % on all 
merchandise imports ( Section  3.1.4.2). In 2012, this tax totalled CFAF  62 million (EUR  94,500).  
4.49.  The sector is supervised by the Ministry of Water, Forests, Hunting and Fishing, which has a 
website.82 The Ministry manages the tendering procedure for management and operating 
permits  (PEAs), which are issued by decree to forestry comp anies; their areas of concession and the 
conditions for exploiting them are laid down by the PEAs. Approved companies are required to 
prepare and abide by a management plan included in the conservation, protection and management 
plan for the State's forest s. According to the authorities, as of September  2019, all of CAR's 11  PEAs 
allocated to  concessionaires contained formally approved management plans. Some news articles 
claim that, in reality, the management plans are not supervised.83 
4.50.  According to the au thorities, 70 % of production must be processed locally. In practice, the 
share of volumes processed by the six companies active in this area fell sharply. The processing rate 
dropped from around 49 % in 2001 to 14 % in 2017, before climbing back up to 29 % in 2021. A 
CEMAC Community decision of 18  September  2020 banning rough wood exports by all countries in 
the Congo Basin was to take effect on 1  January  2022. The Council of Ministers decision delayed the 
entry into force until 1  January  2023.  
4.51.  Some 60 species  are listed, but production covers mainly the following: Sapelli, Sipo, African 
mahogany, Aniegre and Iroko. The areas of planted forests are negligible (about 7,000  hectares). 
In total, 30 or so species are processed, with Sapelli ( Entandrophragma cylindr icum) and Ayous 
(Triplochiton scleroxylon ) accounting for approximately 68 % of the total volume in 2021.  
4.52.  In 2011, CAR signed the bilateral Voluntary Partnership Agreement with the EU (FLEGT -VPA) 
to provide secure access to European markets for its forestry  production. The purpose of this process 
is to improve forestry governance and ensure that wood imported into the EU meets all regulatory 
requirements. Its objectives are to contribute to the fight against illegal logging and improve forest 
resource manage ment. In January  2020, 20 Central African enterprises were approved under the 
FLEGT -VPA. A financing agreement signed in 2012 with the EU in the amount of EUR  6.7 million for 
support to implement the VPA could not be carried out due to conflicts; its imple mentation resumed 
in 2019.  
4.53.  The World Bank also launched a Natural Resource Governance Project in CAR, of which the 
forestry sector could be one of the main beneficiaries.84 
4.54.  The Sustainable Forest Resources Management Agency (AGDRF) monitors implementation of 
management plans and oversees exploitation activities.  
4.1.6.3   Taxes on production and exports  
4.55.  The Ministry of Trade and Industry has been setting the "reference price" for wood, on which 
export taxes are based, since 2008. The Forestry Code (Article  183) provi des that the reference 
price per cubic metre of each species is determined twice yearly in CFAF  by joint order of the 
Ministries responsible for trade, finance and forests on the basis of the previous month's f.o.b. prices. 
CAR signed an agreement with the  privately owned SGS Cameroun in September  2018 to establish 
a more reliable basis for determining these prices. The SGS thus provides world prices for some 
20 species.  
 
82 Viewed at: https://www.gouv.cf/les -ministres/84/ministre -des-eaux-forets -chasse -et-peche . 
83 Viewed at: https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2015/07/15/centrafrique -le-commerce -de-bois-a-
t-il-aliment e-la-guerre_4683280_3212.html . 
84 World Bank, Natural Resource Governance Project. Viewed at: 
http://documents.banquemondiale.org/curated/fr/725911558426725248/pdf/R%C3%A9publique -
Centrafricaine -Projet -de-Gouvernance -des-Ressources -Naturelles -Mission -Sectorielle -22-F%C3%A9vrier -au-8-
Mars-2019.pdf . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 339 - 
  4.56.  According to the authorities, since 2019, the private sector has considered the referen ce 
prices, and therefore the taxes, to be too high. Despite a decline in exports between 2018 and 2019 
due to lower international demand, export values increased nonetheless. The BIVAC verification 
programme, in place since 2005, ended in 2019. This progra mme covered the inspection, 
identification and marking of rough wood  for export when they are loaded on to trucks as well as of 
wood products entering and leaving sawmills and travelling  through the border posts with Cameroon. 
BIVAC was also responsible fo r securing customs  revenue by verifying the price of wood, as the 
basis for applying exit duties. The exporter paid BIVAC's fees, which amounted to 1 % of the 
free-on-truck value (i.e. leaving the  Central  African Republic on a truck), determined twice yearl y 
by joint order of the  Ministers responsible for forests and finance; 19 % VAT was charged on the 
fees, which were a minimum of  CFAF 140,000 (EUR  213).  
4.57.  The areas under PEAs are subject to a leasing tax (CFAF  500/ha of useful area under the 
PEA), felling ta x (7% of the reference price per m3 felled) and a reforestation tax  (11% of the 
reference price per exported m3 of all species).  
4.58.  Additional duties and taxes are levied on exports of forestry products, including an exit duty 
of 8% of the f.o.b. value for wo od in the rough, 4 % for sawn wood and 1 % for wood products. A 
minimum flat rate tax of 2 % of the export value is added to the above, as is the REIF (0.5 % of the 
export value) and the costs associated with the certificate of origin and the phytosanitary cer tificate.  
4.59.  Wood is exported primarily through Cameroon. The numerous administrative steps, the taxes 
collected all along the transport chain, and the very poor state of the supply routes place a strain on 
the cost price of the items being sold. Operators co mplain that these and other taxes are again 
collected at the time of export by the Port of Douala, further reducing their income. They cite the 
following:  
• handling charges for placing the goods on board the ship ("f.o.b. charges");  
• subcontracting commission charges: CFAF  15,000 per delivery note (BL);  
• fees paid to Cameroonian customs: CFAF  10,000 per BL;  
• GUCE authorization fees: CFAF  10,000 per BL;  
• computer tax: CFAF  15,000 per BL;  
• BL costs: CFAF  20,000;  
• certificate of origin fee: CF AF 10,000 per BL;  
• phytosanitary certificate fee: CFAF  10,000 per BL;  
• EUR1 certificate fee: CFAF  5,000 per BL;  
• the cost of storing wood with the Société d'exploitation des parcs à bois du Cameroun 
(Cameroon Timber Company);  
• commissions on disbursements;  
• equipment rental fees; and  
• parking fees after 11 days (demurrage).  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 340 - 
  4.2  Mining and energy  
4.2.1   Mining products  
4.2.1.1   Overview  
4.60.  CAR's subsoil is rich in mineral deposits, including deposits of diamonds, gold, iron, uranium 
and petroleum, but only the diamond and gold deposit s are exploited. CAR diamonds are known to 
be of a particularly high quality (Chart 4.1). They are exported rough and cut exclusively abroad. 
There have been major fluctuations in the production and export of official diamonds since 2013 
(Chart 4.1). Offic ial gold exports had a taxable value of around CFAF 6 billion in 2019.  
Chart 4.1 Diamond exports  
 
Note:  Data for 2022  cover only the period from January to October.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations based on data from the International Trade Centre's Trade Map and 
information provided by the Ministry of Mining and Geology (MMG).  
4.61.  CAR is working to promote sustainable investment in the mining sector, including foreign 
investment. The Minis try of Mining and Geology (MMG) seeks to strengthen coordination between 
domestic actors in order to tackle the illegal trafficking of natural resources, secure production areas 
and regain control of mining sites. CAR has rejoined the Extractive Industries  Transparency Initiative 
(EITI), having been suspended from it in 2013. According to the authorities, the changes and reforms 
being made within the mining sector are helping to improve basic production and marketing 
channels. Small -scale mining is growing due to an increase in semi -mechanized operations.  
4.62.  In 2013, CAR was placed under sanction by the Kimberley Process (KP). 85 An embargo was 
placed on exports of rough diamonds from the country, as armed groups were mining and selling 
gold and diamonds illega lly to fund their activities. As a result, the country's economy contracted by 
37% in 2013, illustrating the weight of the mining sector within the economy . The KP embargo was 
lifted for just one part of the country in 2015; in 2022, exports of diamonds we re only authorized 
from just over 30 of the country's 72 subprefectures. The volume of exports has increased since the 
partial lifting of the embargo but remains below pre -crisis levels. The official gold trade is also 
 
85 Viewed at: 
https://www.kimberleyprocess.com/fr/system/files/documents/central_african_republic_annual_report_2018.p
df. 
020406080100120140
010203040506070
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022Production (in Carats) Industrial diamonds sorted(USD million)No production data availableNo production data availableNo production data available(Thousands of carats)WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 341 - 
  growing. Nevertheless, the mining sec tor accounted for 1% of the State's tax revenue in 2018, which 
is well below the 18% it contributed in 2011.86  
4.2.1.2   Measures affecting production  
4.63.  The 2009 Mining Code was described in the previous review.87 It governs the prospecting, 
exploration, exploitation , possession, movement and  processing of all mineral substances in CAR, 
with the exception of uranium and  hydrocarbons, which are covered by separate provisions (see 
below). The State may, without payment, take a share of 10% or more in the capital of mini ng 
companies holding exploration or exploitation permits; the share taken depends on the size of the 
deposit and the nature of the mineral. The MMG decided to revise the Mining Code with a view to 
attracting foreign investment, in line with the recommendat ions of the forum on private -sector 
development held in 2015. At end -2022, the revision of the Mining Code was in its final stages, and 
the implementing decree was in preparation. For any company being set up in the country, an 
agreement will be signed set ting out certain rules for collaboration between the Mining Department 
and the company.  
4.64.  The national KP Monitoring Team was set up in 2015, as was an operational framework for 
the resumption of exports. The Monitoring Team is made up of representatives of civil society; the 
mining authorities, including the Special Anti -Fraud Unit; the KP Focal Point; small -scale miners and 
mining cooperatives; collectors; purchasing offices; and mining companies. The team and these 
entities are still operational.  
4.65.  A total o f 116 exploration and exploitation permits to mine gold and diamonds were granted 
by decree between 4 January 2018 and 26 February 2019.88 There was a slight increase in the 
number of permits granted between 2020 and 2022. These were mainly exploitation pe rmits for 
small -scale, semi -mechanized mining granted for a period of one to five years. Some of the permits 
were obtained by foreign companies, including European, African, Russian and Chinese enterprises.  
4.66.  Almost half of the newly granted exploitation pe rmits  are for areas outside the KP -authorized 
"green zone". Under the KP, it is not illegal to mine diamonds outside the green zone, but exports 
from such areas are prohibited. Article 43 of the Mining Code entitles the holder of a semi -small -
scale permit  to exploit all the mineral substances found within the attributed area but does not 
specify which minerals can be exported. If companies produce diamonds outside the green zone 
(which is authorized under the KP), they are required to store those diamonds until the embargo is 
lifted. However, it is very difficult to control production and storage, particularly in the east of the 
country, which was still under embargo at the end of 2022.  
4.2.1.3   Measures affecting exports  
4.67.  Only mining companies, authorized purchasing  offices and organized and approved mining 
cooperatives (for exports of at least CFAF 20  million, about EUR 31,000) may export precious stones 
and precious and semi -precious metals.89 Small -scale miners are required to sell minerals either to 
certified col lectors, who must then sell them on to a purchasing office, or directly to a purchasing 
office, which will then export the minerals or provide processing facilities.  
4.68.  In January 2020, around 20 purchasing offices were authorized by decree to sell rough 
diamonds and gold. As part of the international surveillance carried out by the KP Monitoring Team, 
these offices must ensure that no individuals linked to armed groups a re involved in their supply 
chains. All exports are in rough form. The ADAMASWISS purchasing office used to melt gold down 
and export it in ingots. The foundry halted its operations in 2011 but in 2022 it was operating under 
the name SWISS GOLD VALUE.  
 
86 Viewed at: https://www.jeuneafrique.com/856132/politique/centrafrique -moscou -souhaite -la-levee -
totale -de-lembarg o-sur-les-diamants /. 
87 Law No.  09.005 of 29 April 2009. Viewed at: http://www.droit -afrique.com/upload/doc/rca/RCA -
Code-2009-minier.pdf . 
88 RFI Afrique , 27 May 2019. Viewed at: http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20190522 -centrafrique -mines -
diamants -kimberley . 
89 Article 96 of Ordinance No.  04.001 of 1  February  2004 (Mining Code).  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 342 - 
  4.69.  Valuations of precious and semi -precious stones and metals intended for export are carried 
out exclusively by the Bureau for the Valuation and Control of Diamonds and Gold (BECDOR). Since 
2017, a minimum reference price has been set for the export of rough dia monds.90 The 
KP Permanent Secretariat (SPPK) is responsible for drawing up the certificate of origin, which is 
issued once the exporter has submitted all legal documents relating to the package's traceability 
and its valuation by BECDOR. Controls and valua tions are carried out by a committee (made up of 
BECDOR experts, a customs representative, tax agents and the Special Anti -Fraud Unit). Following 
the resumption of exports, export applications must be sent to the KP Monitoring Team for review 
and approval.  
4.70.  The export tax rates (Table 3.6) applied to precious stones and metals are set out in the 
country's financial legislation. The following are the taxes on exports: the exit duty (DS), at 1.50%; 
the REIF, at 0.25%; the Mining Industry Development Project (P DSM) levy, at 0.50%; the  SPPK 
levy, at 0.50%; and the IMF, at 1.25%. In total, purchasing offices must pay taxes amounting to 
4% of the diamonds' export value; in practice, taxes are levied on a very small quantity of diamonds 
in relation to the number cir culating informally.  
4.71.  The following taxes are levied on official gold exports: the DS, at 1.25%; the REIF, at 0.50% 
and the PDSM levy, at 0.50%. This amounts to 2.25% of the export value.  
4.2.2   Energy  
4.72.  More than 96% of the energy consumed in CAR still comes from firewood, charcoal and farm 
residue; around 3% comes from imported petroleum products and less than 1% from electricity.  
4.2.2.1   Petroleum products  
4.73.  Oil exploration was first carried out in CAR in 1973, by a US consortium;91 since then, 
contracts have been negotiated to exploit these resources. The prospecting, exploration, exploitation 
and transportation of hydrocarbons by pipeline through the country are governed by a 1993 
ordinance, whose provisions are implemented by the Ministry of Mining, Energy and Water Resources 
(MMEH).92 In December 2019, two Chinese companies held prospecting permits.93 Currently, 
three  companies have prospecting permits: the two Chinese companies and a South African 
company still in the exploration  phase in the west of the country.  
4.74.  CAR does not currently produce any petroleum products and imports all the refined petroleum 
products its needs. In 2018, fuel imports amounted to the equivalent of around EUR  20 million, or 
EUR 3.6 per capita. In Decembe r 2019, almost half of all petroleum imports, in terms of value, were 
not recorded in the computerized customs management system ASYCUDA.  
4.75.  Law No. 07.005 of 24  April 2007 reorganizing the downstream petroleum subsector in CAR 
governs competition, the granti ng of approval and licences, specifications for operators, and prices; 
a 2012 decree sets out the related implementing regulations.94 The Agency for the Stabilization and 
Regulation of Petroleum Product Prices (ASRP) is responsible for ensuring the proper functioning of 
the subsector and  its development throughout the national territory. This includes monitoring global 
prices, carrying out competitive bidding for the provision of supplies, and regulating and stabilizing 
petroleum prices.  
4.76.  Law No.  07.007 of 2 4 April 2007 assigns sole responsibility for storing and handling petroleum 
products and derivatives to the Central African Petroleum Product Storage Company (SOCASP), in  
 
90 Order No. 86 of 2 November 2017 setting the minimum reference value for rough diamonds intended 
for export.  
91 UNDP (2017), "Rapport de diagnostic du secteur énergétique  de la République Centrafricaine ". Viewed 
at: 
https://info.undp.org/docs/pdc/Documents/CAF/Rapport%20de%20diagnostic%20du%20secteur%20%C3%A9
nergie%20RCA%20VF.pdf . 
92 Ordinance No. 93.007 of 25 May 1993 on CAR's Petroleum Code.  
93 PTI-IAS and PTI -AL are both subsidiaries of Poly Technologies, a leading state -owned Chinese military 
and civilian equipment manufacturer. Viewed at: http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20160206 -rca-wikileaks -societes -
chinoises -petrole . 
94 Decree No.  12.019 establishing the regulations implementing  Law No. 07.005 of 24  April 2007 
reorganizing the downstream petroleum subsector in CAR.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 343 - 
  which the State holds a 51% stake. The remaining 49% of the company's capital is hel d by private 
"marketers". In July 2019, SOCASP unveiled a new tank capable of storing 5.5  million  litres of 
hydrocarbons, thereby improving the country's storage and supply of petroleum products.  
4.77.  All other downstream oil industry activities (import, re -export, transport, distribution 
and marketing of hydrocarbons) are undertaken by marketers, of which there were three in 
December 2019: Total -Centrafrique, TRADEX and SARP Oil. However, more companies obtained 
approval to operate as marketers in 2020 (Rowell -Oil, Litoko and Bocom).  
4.78.  Distributors import either by river via Kinshasa or overland via Douala in Cameroon or 
N'Djamena in Chad. The current regulations stipulate that, during the period when waterways are 
navigable, 80% of the country's supply must be affected by river and 20% by road, given the high 
cost of land transport. Private marketers manage all aspects of the import process. SOCASP then 
stores the imports and supplies the service stations.  
4.79.  Import prices are negotiated freely by the marketers and  may therefore vary from one 
marketer to the next. The ASRP sets selling prices by reference to world prices and to those in force 
in other CEMAC  countries. It acts as the secretariat for the Petroleum Product Price Structure 
Committee, which submits the p rice structure on a monthly basis for approval by the Minister 
responsible for energy. The ASRP is also responsible for monitoring the security stocks that 
distributors must maintain.  
4.80.  Imports are subject to a series of taxes and fees set by decree. The tar iff grid includes a single 
tax on petroleum products (TUPP), which is specific (CFAF/litre), and customs duties; both taxes are 
payable by the marketers to the Government. If the (fixed) selling price is higher than the import 
price (including taxes), a re mittance is made to the Government; if the selling price is lower, the 
marketers receive payment from the Government.95 This system can result in the State incurring 
losses in the event of sharp fluctuations in world prices.  
4.81.  The "distributor's" margin is d etermined according to the type of product and the amount to 
be sold under the investment plan that each distributor negotiates with the Government. A 15% 
"manager's" margin remunerates services related to the operation of service stations and storage.  
4.2.2.2   Electricity  
4.82.  According to the authorities, CAR's electricity market is open to foreign investors. A national 
investment guarantee fund is being created to facilitate private investment.  
4.83.  CAR has a dense hydrographic network with an estimated potential hydroele ctric capacity of 
2,000 MW; this is spread over some 40 hydroelectric power stations with varying potential capacities 
of 5–180 MW. The actual total installed capacity of the interconnected network is around 37 MW, 
and the rate of access to electricity re mains among the lowest in Africa, at 4%; the access rate is 
20% in the capital, Bangui, and 1% for towns in the interior and rural areas.96  
4.84.  Since 2016, several projects to improve access to electricity have been launched, such as the 
Emergency Electricity  Supply and Access Project (PURACEL), funded since 2017 by the World  Bank 
and the International Development Association.97 PURACEL aims to improve electricity supply and 
access for current electricity users in Bangui; strengthen the production and distribu tion capacity of 
the national state -owned company, ENERCA; and provide institutional support to improve 
management of the sector. The project also supports the Ministry responsible for energy 
development (MMEH). The project was expected to increase the num ber of hours of electricity supply 
by reducing power outages and cuts.  
 
95 Decree No. 16.288 of 8 July 2016 prescribing the pricing methodology for petroleum products in  
CAR. 
96 UNDP (2017), Rapport de diagnostic du secteur énergétique de la Républ ique Centrafricaine . 
Viewed  at: 
https://info.undp.org/docs/pdc/Documents/CAF/Rapport%20de%20diagnostic%20du%20secteur%20%C3%A9
nergie%20RCA%20VF.pdf . 
97 Viewed at: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/622061546583419355/pdf/Rapport -d-finitif-
EIES.pdf . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 344 - 
  4.85.  Most of ENERCA's output is sourced from hydroelectricity. The Boali 1 and Boali 2 power 
stations (built in 1954 and 1976, respectively), with a total capacity of 18.75 MW, are  located s ome 
80 km from Bangui and are linked to the capital by two medium -voltage lines. These facilities are 
obsolete. Thermal energy represents only 2% of total production; it is rarely used owing to the high 
cost of fuel. ENERCA still finds it difficult to coll ect its revenue, particularly from state -owned 
enterprises. Numerous independent entities have begun producing their own electrical power using 
generating sets, solar kits and hydroelectric micro -stations.  Several electrification projects are at 
varying st ages of development.  
4.86.  In terms of the international electricity trade, a medium -voltage line runs from the 
neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo to Mobaye (608 km from Bangui). Imports 
are subject  to the CEMAC CET rate of 10% and VAT of 15%, in kee ping with Article 166 bis of the 
General Tax Code.  
4.87.  The 2005 Electricity Code sought to open up electricity generation, imports, exports, 
transmission and  distribution to competition and authorized entities to generate their own power.98 
The 2005 Code did no t enter into force, as there were no implementing regulations. In practice, a 
monopoly on the distribution and transmission of electricity remains in place. At end -2022, the Code 
was still in the process of being amended. The MMEH's Directorate -General for  Energy issues 
operating authorizations, subject to prior technical approval by the Autonomous Regulatory Agency 
for the  Electricity Sector (ARSEC). Entities that generate their own power are, in theory, required to 
declare their equipment and obtain prior  administrative authorization before using their facilities. 
The Code also gives those entities the discretion to sell their surplus energy to other consumers at 
prices set by an order from the Minister responsible for energy at levels that are insufficien t to cover 
the sector's production costs and technical losses. The rate scale in use dates from 8 February 2006. 
Under the scale, public lighting is billed at CFAF 70/kW; a rate of CFAF 161/kW is applied in 
secondary centres; and the  medium -voltage rate co nsists of a standing charge of CFAF 2,750/kW, 
plus a variable component (day, night, etc.) with a penalty for overconsumption of CFAF 26/kW. A 
special charge of CFAF  10/kW is invoiced by ENERCA and turned over to ARSEC; a contribution of 
CFAF 2/kW is also levied by ENERCA.99 
4.3  Manufacturing  
4.88.  CAR has several agricultural and food processing industries, forestry industries specialized in 
rough wood  and sawn wood exports ( Section 3.1.6), manufacturing units for aluminium sheets, 
various chemical products and cons truction materials, garment workshops and other small -scale 
activities. The difficulties facing the country's manufacturing sector are immense and stem mainly 
from a lack of funding, untimely power cuts, the poor state of roads and transport equipment, hig h 
levels of formal and informal taxation, including on imports, and a lack of qualified workers.  
4.89.  Both domestic and foreign companies wishing to invest in the country can make use of the 
provisions of the Investment Charter (reduced customs duties and VAT, and lower domestic 
taxation). The GUCE/CCIMA Centre for Business Formalities also tries to facili tate procedures. These 
provisions are described in Section 2.4.  
4.90.  As part of the Programme of Support for Trade and Economic Integration (PACIE), the United 
Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) runs the Central African Quality Infrastructure 
Programme (PIQAC) and the Regional Upgrading Programme (PRMN). The aim of PIQAC is to 
strengthen competitiveness and ensure the diversification of productive sectors by providing support 
to the institutions responsible for product quality. The PRMN helps implement upgrades for eligible 
manufacturing companies (as well as industry -related services companies in accordance with 
identified needs). UNIDO has selected seven companies in CAR for a pre -assessment; these include 
four companies that we re selected for the PRMN's pilot phase: the SN -HUSACA plant oil factory, 
SUCAF ( Section 4.1.3.3), Graine de moutarde and CAFE GBAKO.  The project has been put on hold 
as a result of military and political events in the country.  
4.91.  In 2020, domestic pharmaceuti cal market players included a Chinese company,  ASPHARCA, 
which produces solid solutes, and an Indian generics plant, ROFFE PHARMA. The country also has 
the Pasteur Institute, a reference laboratory for medical analyses, medical research and public health 
 
98 Ordinance No. 05.001 of 1 January 2005.  
99 Order No. 017/2006/MMEH/DIRCAB/DGE of 8 February 2006.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 345 - 
  support and training. Imports of medicines are subject to the CET on medicines of 5%, as well as  
the Community integration tax (TCI) of 0.4% and the REIF of 0.5%. These duties drive up the prices 
of medicines.  
4.92.  Since 2004, the Drug Procurement Unit (UCM) ha s been importing medicines alongside private 
wholesalers. The UCM supplies public facilities, as well as private facilities and NGOs. The National 
Essential Medicines List sets out the medicines distributed by the UCM. The UCM  procurement 
committee is resp onsible for awarding contracts. Purchase prices are compared with WHO's 
reference pricing and the results are published; these procedures are meant to make prices more 
favourable. The UCM is supposed to perform quality controls on imported medicines, altho ugh this 
procedure does not appear to be respected by wholesalers.  
4.93.  There are three private -sector wholesalers that import medicines and medical devices, namely 
the Centrafricaine des pharmacies (CENTRAPHARM), set up in 1992; ROFFE PHARMA, which 
distribute s medicines from three pharmaceutical laboratories; and SHALINA, which represents an 
Indian laboratory and markets only its own products. Other structures involved in the supply of 
essential medicines include the Ministry of Health, denominational entities , and partners (UNDP, 
USAID, MSF, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, WHO and UNICEF). According 
to MSF, nationwide medicine shortages can sometimes last for several months.100  
4.94.  In 2009, WHO conducted a study on the supply of essential medicines in CAR. The 
recommendations of the study were supposed to serve as the basis for a plan in that area. One of 
the recommendations was to require all programmes and partners to use the UCM for importing, 
storing and distributing medicines. CAR has not yet accepted the Protocol Amending the 
TRIPS  Agreement, which offers additional flexibilities to grant special compulsory licences for the 
export of medicines and facilitate access to them.101  
4.4  Services  
4.95.  Several sectors (banking, insurance, certain profe ssional services and transport) are partly 
regulated at the Community level, but there is no indication that the Community provisions have 
been transposed into domestic law. In 1994, the CAR made specific WTO GATS commitments only 
regarding tourism.102 
4.96.  Law No. 16.006 of 30 December  2016, establish ing CAR's Commercial Code , and  its 
implementing Decree No.  20.335 of 10 September 2020 state that  the provision of any service 
(educational, telecommunications, financial, transport, legal, tourism, medical, environ mental, 
architectural, energy -related, cultural and sporting, as well as accounting) is still subject to prior 
approval signed by the Minister responsible for trade.  
4.97.  Under the 2020 Budget  Law, imports of services (payments made abroad for services) are 
taxed at a rate of 15% in CAR; this levy is a form of withholding tax.103 
4.4.1   Transport services  
4.98.  The transport sector is regulated both at the Community level (Common Report, Section  4.5) 
and at the national level. The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation is the public authority 
responsible for the sector. It apparently has no website.  
4.99.  The authorities have indicated that the country's transport sector is open to private 
investment , including foreign investment; private investment in road paving, in the repair and/or 
replacement of barges and other water transport equipment, in improving the navigability of the 
Ubangi and Sangha Rivers and in projects to build bridges over those riv ers would bring major  
 
100 Viewed at: https:// www.msf.fr/sites/default/files/a_state_of_silent_crisis_fr.pdf . 
101 How to approve the Protocol Amending the TRIPS Agreement. Viewed at: 
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/accept_e.htm . 
102 WTO document GATS/SC/17 of 30 August 1995.  
103 Online information from the Ministry of Fina nce. Viewed at: http://www.finances -
budget.cf/component/k2/item/388 -lolf2020 . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 346 - 
  benefits for the country's entire economy, given  CAR's geostrategic location at the crossroads of 
transcontinental trade flows.  
4.4.1.1   Air transport  
4.100.   Bangui M'poko International Airport receives the bulk of the country's air traffic, but th ere 
are also reported to be 40 aerodromes throughout the country in various states of operation. A 
CFAF 4 billion project to renovate Bangui airport began in 2017 and was co -funded by the French 
Development Agency and the Central  African  States  Development  Bank ( CASBD ). Bangui airport 
receives around 120,000 passengers each year.104 Some international airlines (Air France, 
Asky-Togo, Kenya Airways and Royal Air Maroc, in March  2022) offer flights to Bangui during the 
day (the airport cannot be used at night) . In addition to flights from their national hubs, some airlines 
also offer fifth freedom flights from third -country destinations such as Entebbe in Uganda, Brazzaville 
in the Republic of the Congo, Port Harcourt in Nigeria, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Doua la in 
Cameroon. Cameroon's national airline, Camair, resumed flights to Bangui in April  2023, with three 
flights per week.  
4.101.   Aviation relations with CEMAC members are governed by the Libreville Treaty , which is 
described in the Common Report. The series of b ilateral air transport agreements that CAR has with 
countries outside CEMAC is, however, broader than the actual number of destinations served.  
4.102.   The following airlines have been approved by the Ministry of Transport to operate domestic 
flights: Aviation Ma chine Works, Centrafric'air, Centrafrican Airlines, Centrafrique Air Express, 
Central Airways, Inter RCA, Karinou Airlines, Linex, Minair, Société Centrafricaine de Transport 
Aerien, Bako Air, Lobaye Airways  and Air Bangui.105 There are no public data on th e freight and 
passenger traffic of these airlines. Some of these companies are no longer in operation. It should be 
noted, however, that the list of approved airlines increased by two between 2020 and 2022, which 
could indicate an increase in activity. Muc h of the freight traffic is assured by flights chartered by 
humanitarian organizations. Recurring fuel shortages make conditions for air transport difficult.  
4.103.   According to the authorities, the market is open to competition, including foreign 
competition, wi th the exception of domestic services, which are reserved for CAR -based companies 
(Section  2.4) with equity of CFAF  50 million (around EUR  76,000).  
4.104.   Several legal texts and regulations have been adopted since the previous review in 2013 
with a view to redu cing the safety problems affecting air transport in the country. In 2015, CAR 
adopted an order on flight safety, regulations establishing the conditions of use of planes by 
commercial airlines, and regulations establishing airworthiness conditions for civi l aircraft.  
4.105.   The provision of domestic air transport services is regulated by Law No.  65.063 
of 29 July 1965, which in principle prohibits cabotage by foreign companies. Under Article 10 
of Decree No.  09.036 of 23  June 2009, foreign air transport companies may only provide commercial 
services in CAR if they are authorized and designated by their countries of origin and approved by 
the aviation authorities of CAR.106 According to the authorities, all the applications that are submitted 
are approved. The CEMAC 2000 Civil Aviation Code is described in the Common Report and is the 
subject of a 2007 implementing decree. The authorities have indicated that CAR fully applies the 
Yamoussoukro Declaration on a New Africa Air Transport Policy , which liberalize s Africa's civil 
aviation market for African airlines.  
4.106.   The National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC), which was created in 2009, is responsible for 
regulating civil aviation.107 ANAC's organization chart was established in Order No.  078-19 of 
28 October  2019. The Transport Minister's Order No.  354-19 of 8  January  2019 sets forth the 
schedule of air transport fees charged by ANAC. The country's airports are managed by the 
Directorate -General of Civil Aviation and Meteorology. Airport services are managed by t he Agency 
 
104 Bangui M'poko Airport. Viewed at: https://www.aeroport -
bangui.com/fr/informations_aeroport.php?idnew=390 . 
105 Bangui M'poko Airport. Viewed at: https://www.aeroport -
bangui.com/fr/int/booking/national_fleet.php?lg=fr . 
106 Decree No.  09.036 of 23  January  2009 regulating commercial air transport in the CAR.  
107 Articles of association viewed a t: http://www.finances -budget.cf/documents/agences -et-
organismes/459 -rca-xxxx-xx-anac-statuts -de-l-autorite -nationale -de-l-aviation -civile/file . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 347 - 
  for Air Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (Common  Report  Section  4.3), which oversees 
air service operators and is responsible for air transport safety. The Transport Minister's Order 
No. 348-17 of 4  May 2017 established  a national air t ransport safety programme.  
4.107.   No information on regulations regarding aircraft maintenance, the approval of aircraft 
maintenance companies or ground handling was provided, even though this is provided for in the 
CEMAC Code. A privately owned international com pany, Menzies Aviation Handling Services, is the 
only company that provides ground handling services to air transport operators and users at 
Bangui  M'poko Airport. This company also transports passengers to the terminal building, manages 
airport infrastruc ture and equipment, and runs cargo chartering, handling, transport and 
representation operations.  
4.4.1.2   Road transport  
4.108.   Road transport plays a crucial role in CAR's economy. The country's road network spans a 
total of 24,000 km, of which only 700 km are paved. Na tional roads cover 4,500 km and regional 
roads 3,900 km. The rest of the network (more than 60%) is made up of rural roads between 
villages; these roads are in poor condition, and some regions cannot be reached by road during the 
rainy season. Since 2014, the World Food Programme, the United Nations Office for Project Services, 
the World Bank and the NGO ACTED have undertaken  road and bridge repairs for humanitarian 
purposes. The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Centr al African 
Republic  (Section  2.1) does the same for military purposes.  
4.109.   In theory, only local hauliers can provide domestic transport services, which are subject to 
minimum tariffs that are published regularly and based on fuel price trends. There do not appear to 
have been any new regulations concerning interurban road transport since Ordinance No. 88.011 of 
11 March 1988 and its implementing Decree No. 88.151 of 25 April 1998 and Decree No  90.043 of 
13 February 1990 organizing road transport . 
4.110.   Internatio nal road transport services with neighbouring countries are governed by market -
sharing agreements between the parties' hauliers, which limits competition from new operators.  
• In May 2018, CAR and Congo entered into an agreement to share access to the ove rland 
transport market among providers registered in one or other of the two States, with 70% 
of the cargo volume (and 100% of the transported volume of hydrocarbons and government 
purchases) reserved for hauliers from the receiving State.108  
• Another agr eement reserves road transport between CAR and Cameroon for hauliers of CAR 
or Cameroon nationality, with 60% for hauliers using vehicles registered in CAR, and 40% 
for hauliers using vehicles registered in Cameroon.109 In practice, however, the authorities  
have stated that, unfortunately, 90% of transport is carried out by Cameroonians.  
• Two agreements, with Chad and Sudan, are in preparation.  
4.111.   The sharing of cargoes between these countries is managed by the Central African Road 
Charter Bureau (BARC) and t he Cameroon Land Freight Management Bureau (BGFT). The 
management bureaux levy a 4% commission on the pre -tax value of transport services provided. 
When BARC itself is the charterer, an additional 2% commission is levied.  
4.112.   In July  2012, the World Bank appr oved USD  125 million in funding for repairs to the roads 
between Douala in Cameroon and Bangui in CAR, thereby improving access to roads linking the two 
cities irrespective of the season. The project also financed road safety activities and the facilitatio n 
of goods transport. This should make the country more attractive to trade and investment.  
4.4.1.3   River transport  
4.113.   The Ubangi River is the country's main waterway. It is used to export wood and live cattle 
and to import petroleum products when the season is favou rable. The Ubangi's flow varies from less 
 
108 Agreement on land transport of goods between CAR and the Republic of the Congo of May 2018.  
109 Convention of 22  December  1999 on land transport of goods between Cameroon and CA R. WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 348 - 
  than 1,000  m³/s on average in March in Bangui (which limits navigability) to 8,000 m³/s in October. 
Downstream traffic can cover 1,200 km in  six to  seven days (to Brazzaville) and upstream traffic in 
seven to 12 da ys (from Brazzaville). Goods are then transported to Pointe -Noire in Congo via the 
Congo Ocean railways, or to Kinshasa (in  the DRC).  
4.114.   Groupe Bolloré (whose African operations are in the process of being acquired  by the 
Italian -Swiss shipping company MSC) has held the concession for the container terminal at the port 
of Bangui since 1996. The Central African River Transport Company (SOCATRAF), in which 
Groupe  Bolloré holds a nearly 68% stake, manages the port and all barge transport from Bangui to 
Kinshasa and Brazzaville. The use of only one river transporter limits competition. However, on the 
upstream section of the Ubangi River between Bangui and Mobaye, SOCATRAF is in competition with 
the Central African Association of Whale -boats and Small Craft (APBME C), whose members own 
38 "whale -boats" measuring 18 –32 m in length.  
4.115.   The regulatory framework for river transport includes: the CEMAC Inland Waterway 
Navigation Code  (1999) and various memorandums of understanding with the DRC and the Republic 
of the Congo ; Decree No.  12.113 of 5  June 2012 organizing the river and maritime professions and 
auxiliary transport professions; and Decree No.  09.184 of 19  June 2009 organizing waterway 
transport in CAR and its subsequent texts. There is no law governing subsectors such as 
maintenance, cabotage and pilotage . 
4.4.2   Telecommunications services  
4.4.2.1   Market overview  
4.116.   Table 4.3 shows the main telecommunications indicators for CAR in 2020 and Table 4.4 lists 
the average prices of the different types of services in 2021 . 
Table 4.3 Key telecommunications indicators, 2020  
Indicators  Data  
Population covered by a mobile cellular network  56% 
Population covered by at least a 3G network  41% 
Population covered by at least a 4G network  0% 
Individuals owning a mobile phone  .. 
Households with Internet access at home  .. 
Households with a computer at home  .. 
Mobile  cellular subscriptions  per 100 inhabitants  38 
Fixed telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants  0 
Active mobile broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants  6 
Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants  0 
International bandwidth per Internet user (kbit/s)  6 
Percentage of individuals using the Internet  10 
Average monthly fixed broadband Internet traffic per fixed broadband 
subscription (MB)  0 
Average monthly mobile broadband Internet traffic per mobile broadband 
subscription (MB)  940 
.. Not available.  
Source:  ITU Digital Development Dashboard.  
Table 4.4 Average prices of different telecommunications services, 2021  
Type of service  Price (percentage of gross 
national income per capita)  
Fixed broadband basket as a percentage of gross national income per capita  41.0%  
Mobile cellular basket as a percentage of gross national income per capita  24.1% 
Mobile data and voice basket (high consumption) as a percentage of gross 
national income per capita  32.8%  
Mobile data and voice basket (low consumption) as a percentage of gross 
national income per capita  26% 
Mobile broadband basket as a percentage of gross national income per capita  .. 
.. Not available.  
Source:  ITU Digital Development Dashboard.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 349 - 
  4.117.   The telecommunications subsector comprises the traditional oper ator, the Société 
centrafricaine des télécommunications (SOCATEL), in which a subsidiary of the French operator 
Orange has held a 40% stake since 1990, and two foreign -owned private operators, Moov and 
Telecel. At end -2021, Orange was the market leader, wi th a 50% market share, followed by Telecel 
(35%) and Moov (15%). The mobile coverage rate (25% of the population) is one of the lowest in 
Africa, which can be explained, among other things, by shortcomings in the electricity network and 
an inadequate backb one network. All of these companies are involved in international traffic, for 
which they have installed their own satellite -based infrastructure . 
4.118.   Internet access is subject to a licence from the Regulatory Authority for Electronic 
Communications and Posta l Services (ARCEP) and is possible only in certain cities. Connections 
leased to individuals are provided by costly satellite links (VSAT), as there are no fibre optic 
networks. Setting -up charges range from CFAF  500,000 to  CFAF 1,500,000, depending on the  
range; the duration is five years. The monthly costs payable depend on the capacity of the 
connection (which ranges from less than 2  Mb/s to  over 70  Mb/s).110 
4.4.2.2   Market access and regulation  
4.119.   According to the authorities, the following types of services are fully liberalized: cable 
television, data, fixed satellite services, fixed broadband, fixed and mobile global personal 
communications by satellite, international gateways, mobile, radio messaging, Internet services, 
and small aperture satellit e terminals . 
4.120.   However, no information is available on the extent of the liberalization of the following 
services: cable reception modems, international mobile telephony, international fixed lines, wireless 
local loops and digital subscriber lines.111 There i s no longer a monopoly on fixed domestic lines, but 
there is only one provider . 
4.121.   A new Law governing electronic communications in CAR entered into force in January  2018, 
replacing the 2007  legislation.112 All of the implementing decrees were in place by 2020 , including 
those concerning interconnection, infrastructure sharing, Internet access, universal service provision 
and postal activities. The new Code guarantees personal data protection and contains provisions 
concerning cybercrime. It also provides for t he unbundling of the fixed local loop . 
4.122.   Market access is gained through bidding procedures. The Ministry of Posts and 
Telecommunications grants electronic communications licences. ARCEP, which has replaced the 
Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ART)113, reviews the technical and commercial aspects of 
new applications (frequency, competition). It is responsible for allocating radio frequency bands, 
with the exception of frequency bands used for radio and television broadcasting, which are managed 
by the Hig her Council for Communication. ARCEP is the competent authority for settling disputes 
between operators and between operators and users . 
4.123.   Since 2017, mobile telephone companies have been subject to an excise duty of 2% of their 
turnover. The other taxes pay able are the IS, income tax, business tax, taxes on international traffic, 
the rental tax, the IMF, the CDS, the CNSS, and VAT; the prepayment of taxes also applies 
(Section  2.4).114 
4.124.   Incoming international calls have been taxed since 2004. Since 2010, the p re-tax fees have 
been as follows115: if the operator has an  international gateway, CFAF  80 per minute is payable to 
the local operator that terminates the traffic and CFAF  40 to the State; if the operator passes through 
the "sole" international gateway, onl y CFAF  40 is payable to the State; the company managing the 
 
110 Order No.  488/MPTNT/DIRCAB/DGART of 17  November  2008.  
111 ITU database, ICT -Eye. Viewed at: https://www.itu.int/itu -
d/apis/clients/res/pdf/country_profile/report _CAF.pdf . 
112 Viewed at: http://www.assembleenationale -rca.cf . 
113 Viewed at: https://art -rca.cf/ ; https://arcep -rca.cf . 
114 Viewed at: https://www.itu.int . 
115 Order No.  013/MPTN/ 10 amending certain provisions of Order No.  034/MPTN/09 of  3 December  2009 
on the establishment of a centre to combat fraud and monitor and oversee incoming international traffic in 
CAR. WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 350 - 
  sole international gateway and the operators negotiate the allocation of their revenues under 
the arbitration of ARCEP, which then validates it . 
4.4.2.3   Price controls  
4.125.   . ARCEP gathers information on roami ng prices and pricing practices in the subregion; it also 
negotiates with relevant entities to ensure that rates are reasonable so that a maximum number of 
roaming users, including users of prepaid services, can obtain the best price and quality.  
4.126.   Rates for  interconnection services between operators are set by a government order. They 
must comply with the principle of relevant cost orientation. To this end, operators must keep 
separate accounts for their interconnection activities.  
4.127.   Powerful operators are con sidered to be those that exercise significant market influence by 
holding more than 25 % of the relevant market (as defined by ARCEP) . 
4.128.   A fund to ensure universal service access is in the pipeline116; each operator will be required 
to contribute 2 % of its pre vious -year turnover to the fund. In March  2020, the fund had not yet 
come into force . 
4.129.   Prices are subject to the approval of ARCEP, which checks, among other things, that they 
cover service costs . 
4.130.   CAR has undertaken no specific GATS commitments regarding te lecommunications. In  the 
CEMAC framework, CAR has made specific (Community) commitments vis-à-vis the other members 
in the field of telecommunications . 
4.131.   The importation, marketing and use of telecommunications equipment, including satellite 
terminals, are r egulated. Any equipment that will be connected to the public telecommunications 
network must be certified by ARCEP. Such equipment is subject to a customs duty of 10% 
(Common  Report, Section  3.1). 
4.4.3   Postal services  
4.132.   The new Law governing electronic communications in CAR also covers postal services. The 
implementing decrees had been published by March  2020, but not the orders. The National Posts 
and Savings Office (ONPE) is responsible for managing postal services. The ONPE may transfer part 
of the po stal service monopoly it holds by law to private operators established in CAR.117 Accordingly, 
the ONPE concluded an authorization agreement in 1998 with the company DHL, allowing the latter 
to provide express courier services118; the ONPE also provides an e xpress courier service through 
its subsidiary, EMS . 
4.4.4   Financial services  
4.133.   CAR's financial sector is small and highly concentrated among four  commercial banks, which 
account for 93% of the consolidated assets in the financial system. Amongst the other financia l 
institutions are two insurance companies (4% of assets), and 11  microfinance establishments (3%  of 
assets). There is a large foreign presence in the sector. However, the sector does not entirely fulfil 
its role as lender within the economy ( Section  1.1). 
4.4.4.1   Banking services  
4.134.   Banking activities in CAR are subject to the common CEMAC banking regulations 
(Common  Report , Section  4.7), as well as to national regulations. The conditions for establishing 
banks and microfinance institutions are the same for national and foreign entities, and the market 
 
116 Universal service is a minimum set of services of a determined qual ity that is accessible to the entire 
population throughout the country under affordable tariff conditions.  
117 Interministerial Order No.  001/MPT/SG/98 of 2 March 1998.  
118 Order No. 010/MPT/CAB/CMP/ICP/DGONPE/98 of 20 November 1998.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 351 - 
  is largely dominated by the latter. CAR's banking sector is still at an embryonic s tage of development, 
as the country is one of the most underbanked in the world . 
4.135.   The sector is also highly concentrated. Four banks were operating at 31  August  2019; 
together they held deposits of CFAF  185 billion (EUR  282 million) and total assets of CFAF  244 billion 
(EUR 372 million) . 
• Commercial Bank Centrafrique (CBCA Fotso group) is the country's leading bank, 
accounting for almost half the market's total turnover. It has two branches, one in Bangui 
and another in Bouar. The bank's capital is 53% owned by private Cameroonian interests 
and 47% owned by private CAR interests. The State is a CBCA shareholder (10% of 
equity).  
• The Banque populaire maroco -centrafricaine (BPMC) ranks second, with a market share 
of 28%. It has two outlets in Bangui. Two thirds o f its shares are held by Moroccan 
investors and the remainder by private interests in CAR. The State is also a BPMC 
shareholder.  
• ECOBANK is the third largest bank and has a market share of 24%, with two outlets, in 
Berberati and Bangui. The largest shareho lders are South African and Qatari nationals . 
• Banque Sahelo saharienne pour l'investissement et le commerce en Centrafrique (BSIC) 
belongs to the Tripoli -based BSIC Group. It has three outlets in Bangui . 
4.136.   Table  4.5 shows the main indicators for CAR's bankin g sector in 2021 . 
Table 4.5 Key indicators for the CAR banking sector, 2021  Number of 
banks  
Banking 
concentration  
(3 largest 
banks)  
Domestic 
credit (% of 
GDP), 2020  
Annual credit 
growth  
(%) 
Loan -to-depo
sit ratio (%)  
IMF Financial 
Soundness 
Indicators: 
date of most 
recent data 
available  Indic. 1  
Ratio of 
capital to 
risk-weight
ed assets 
(%) Indic. 2  
Return on 
equity (%)  Indic. 3  
Non-performi
ng loans  
(% of total 
loans)  
4 75 12 11 82 2nd quarter 2021  24 9 13 
Source:  European Investment Bank, "Finance in Africa: Navigating the Financial Landscape in Turbulent 
Times", October  2022. 
4.137.   In its 2022  Article  IV report, dated 18  April 2023, the IMF stated that CAR's aggregate 
financial soundness indicators remained broadly adequate, with some heterogeneity, but liquidity 
indicators had deteriorated since end -2021. Non -performing loans remain ed at a relatively high 
level, amounting to 14.8% of total loans at end -April 2022 and 12.4% in December of the same 
year. The level exceeds 20% for one of the country's privately owned banks, meaning that remedial 
measures are needed for the entire sector . According to the IMF, an action plan on non -performing 
loans, as adopted in other CEMAC countries, is warranted . 
4.138.   In April  2022, legislation was adopted that granted legal tender status to crypto -assets and 
guaranteed their convertibility. According to th e IMF, this legislation conflicts with regional legislation 
that grants the BEAC the exclusive right to issue legal tender in the monetary union. The IMF also 
considers that the legislation has given rise to macrofiscal, financial stability and financial i ntegrity 
risks. 
4.139.   In July  2022, the Government launched the "Sango project" with a view to reshaping the 
country's economy through cryptoization and blockchains in order to promote the "tokenization" of 
the country's natural resources and attract internation al investors. The project includes the issuing 
and sale of a crypto -coin/digital currency, the Sango. However, the Constitutional Court has ruled 
that the use of Sango to purchase citizenship, electronic residence and natural resources is illegal. 
As a res ult, less than USD  2 million in Sango have so far been issued (0.2% of the total planned 
issuance), and the coin is not yet traded, as holdings are frozen for one year. Other elements of the 
project have not yet been implemented . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 352 - 
  4.140.   In January  2023, the count ry's authorities established a working group to develop a more 
comprehensive regulatory framework for crypto -assets and tokenization and recognized the need 
for regional harmonization in that area . 
4.4.4.2   Insurance services  
4.141.   CAR is a signatory to the CIMA (Inter -African Conference on Insurance Markets) Treaty 
(Common  Report , Section  4.7). CAR's insurance market is small and has been stagnating for many 
years now. Motor vehicle insurance premiums account for 50% of insurers' portfolios. 
Two companies share the marke t, namely, the Agence générale française (AGF -Allianz, with roughly 
64.5% of market share), and the Union des assureurs centrafricains (31.5% market share), currently 
owned by the Senegalese SUNU Group. Two  brokerage firms are also present on the market: 
ASCOMA, a subsidiary of  ACC Cameroon, and SOCCARREAS. Insurance is compulsory for 
automobiles and for construction sites. Premiums are set by the operators, with a floor fixed by the 
Minister responsible for finance. The market as a whole is worth some CFAF  1.7 billion 
(EUR 2.6 million) . 
4.4.5   Tourism  
4.142.   CAR has enormous tourism potential (equatorial forest, fauna and flora, indigenous 
cultures)119, and wildlife and game hunting tourism had been significant before the military and 
political upheavals occurring in the country over the past 25  years. Poaching and wildlife trafficking 
are major sources of income, especially for armed groups, and in particular in the Chinko Nature 
Reserve managed by the Chinko Project, but also in the north of the country, in the 
Bamingui -Bangoran and Manovo -Gounda St. Floris national parks. CAR is one of the seven  countries 
in ECCAS and home to some of the 15  protected areas covered by the ECOFAC6 programme funded 
by the European Union120, which seeks to promote ecotourism in CAR . 
4.143.   The Wildl ife Conservation Society (WCS) recommends an integrated sector -based approach 
to managing natural resources around protected areas.121 According to the WCS, the ECOFAC6 
programme could enhance ecosystem biodiversity and spur local development, thereby helpi ng to 
restore and consolidate peace. The Ministry for Water, Forests, Hunting and Fishing offers tax and 
customs advantages to promote investment in tourism. Tourist guides may only provide their 
services as subcontractors of an approved agency. Travel age ncy personnel must be CAR nationals. 
There are no specific restrictions on  investment in tourism establishments, and rates are freely set 
by operators. CAR has made specific GATS commitments regarding tourism122, in particular as 
regards hotel and  catering services as well as those of tour operators and tourist guides . 
4.144.   Table  4.6 shows the main tourism indicators for CAR for the entire review period, as compiled 
by the World Tourism Organization . 
Table 4.6 Main economic indicators of the CAR tourism sector, 2014 -21 
 
2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Inbound tourism       
   
Arrivals (thousands)a         
By region (total)  95.6 120.5  81.9 106.7  109 87 35 .. 
Africa  50.7 63.4 37.8 50.6 48 43 23 .. 
Americas  6.7 7.5 2.4 3.4 4 3 1 .. 
East Asia and Pacific  7.3 9.9 6.7 8.4 8 5 .. .. 
Europe  23.3 27.9 20.4 33.1 37 29 8 .. 
Middle East  5.9 8.1 10.7 8.5 9 5 1 .. 
Main purpose of journey          
Personal reasons  56 77 41 56 56 47 33 .. 
 
119 For the sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Viewed at: 
https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/cf /. 
120 Central African Forest Observatory. Viewed at : https://www.observatoire -
comifac.net/file/eyJtb2RlbCI6IkFwcFxcTW9kZ WxzXFxQcm9qZWN0XFxNb2R1bGVzXFxHZW5lcmFsSW5mb1Byb2
dyYW0iLCJmaWVsZCI6InByb2plY3RfZG9jdW1lbnQiLCJpZCI6Mjk2fQ . 
121 Viewed at: http://www.conservation -watch.org/fr/2016/11/04/how -wwf-and-wcs-came -to-hire-a-
private -security -firm-in-dzanga -sangha -central -african -republic /. 
122 WTO document GATS/SC/17 of 30 August 1995.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 353 - 
   
2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Business and professional reasons  40 44 41 51 53 40 1 .. 
By mode of transport (total)  96 121 82 107 109 87 35 .. 
Air 96 121 82 107 109 87 35 .. 
Land (road)  .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
Accommodation (thousands)          
Hotels and similar establishments  .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
Guests  .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
Overnight stays  .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
Tourism expenditure (USD  billions)  28 16 22 25 22 22 31 .. 
Travel  28 16 21 24 21 21 30 .. 
Passenger transport  .. .. 1 1 1 1 1 .. 
Tourism industries          
Number of establishments  59 68 82 89 91 87 91 104 
Number of rooms  972 1,138  1,239  1,281  1,307  1,360  1,396  1,473  
Number of beds  1,224  1,390  1,860  2,244  2,736  2,852  2,916  3,042  
Room occupancy rate (%)  50.64  52.15  57.2 57.08  57.43  57.9 16.51  .. 
Average length of stay  2.95 2.79 1.4 1.3 1.91 2.1 2.37 1.82 
.. Not available.  
a Overnight visitors (tourists) by air.  
Source:  Global tourism statistics, World Tourism Organization . 
4.145.   As the table above illustrates, most of the tourism in CAR is regional since, on average, more 
than half of visitors come from Africa; Europeans make up the second -largest group of visitors, 
accounting for a quarter of arrivals on average. Tourism is spread almost equally between business 
and profes sional tourism and tourism for personal reasons. The country's landlocked nature explains 
why almost all tourists arrive by air. Tourism expenditure rose in overall terms during the review 
period but remains low. The number of establishments and the hotel capacity also increased during 
the review period but from quite low levels. The occupancy rate remained relatively high, except 
during the COVID -19 pandemic . 
 WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
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  5  APPENDIX - TABLES  
Table A1. 1 Structure of exports, 2012 -21 
(USD  million and  %)  
2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
World (USD  million)  114.2  48.7 20.8 96.8 88.0 199.9  54.9 125.2  41.0 58.0  
(Percentage share)  
Total primary products  90.2 91.6 98.4 19.6 35.4 17.4 43.0 17.5 36.0 34.9 
Agriculture  32.5 45.9 98.1 19.6 33.2 13.6 29.3 12.7 19.4 15.0 
Food products  0.4 0.1 0.1 0.5 0.4 1.4 0.2 0.6 0.7 0.2 
Agricultural raw materials  32.0 45.7 98.0 19.1 32.8 12.3 29.1 12.1 18.7 14.8 
2475 - Wood of non -coniferous species, 
in the rough or roughly squared  16.2 29.4 59.6 11.4 22.3 8.9 19.8 9.9 11.1 6.2 
2484 - Wood of non -coniferous species, 
sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or 
peeled  6.3 10.5 24.6 7.6 10.0 2.2 7.3 2.2 6.8 6.0 
2634 - Cotton, carded or combed  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 2.5 
Extractive industries  57.8 45.8 0.3 0.0 2.2 3.7 13.8 4.8 16.5 19.9 
Ores and other minerals  57.7 45.7 0.3 0.0 2.2 3.7 13.6 4.8 16.5 19.9 
2771 - Industrial diamonds, sorted, 
whether or not worked  57.0 45.7 0.0 0.0 2.2 3.6 13.4 4.8 16.4 19.9 
Non-ferrous metal  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Fuels  0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Manufactures  8.3 7.1 0.7 75.9 56.1 63.2 36.4 73.3 38.8 18.7 
Iron and steel  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Chemicals  0.5 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.0 
Other semi -manufactures  0.7 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.7 0.1 1.4 0.3 
Machinery and transport equipment  6.9 6.4 0.0 75.2 55.2 61.0 34.7 73.2 36.4 16.9 
Power -generating machinery  0.4 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.6 4.6 16.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 
Other non -electrical machinery  4.0 3.8 0.0 0.0 3.6 6.4 4.3 0.2 9.4 3.3 
Agricultural machines and tractors  0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 
Office machines and telecommunications 
equipment  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.2 
Other electrical machinery  0.0 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Automotive products  2.3 2.1 0.0 74.8 43.0 29.7 9.5 2.7 24.6 11.4 
7843 - Other parts and accessories of 
motor vehicles  0.0 0.0 0.0 34.3 19.3 12.6 2.0 1.9 0.3 4.0 
7822 - Special purpose motor vehicles, 
other than those principally designed for 
the transport of persons or goods  0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.8 3.7 
7821 - Motor vehicles for the transport of 
goods  1.6 1.3 0.0 40.3 23.5 15.1 7.1 0.2 20.9 2.3 
Other transport equipment  0.2 0.2 0.0 0.0 7.9 20.2 3.5 70.1 2.0 1.8 
Textiles  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.4 1.3 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.3 
Clothing  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Other consumer goods  0.1 0.2 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.9 1.2 
Other  1.5 1.2 0.9 4.5 8.5 19.4 20.5 9.1 25.2 46.4 
9710 - Gold, non -monetary (excluding 
gold ores and concentrates)  1.0 0.6 0.0 0.2 1.0 1.0 4.5 7.3 23.9 45.2 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data provided by the International Trade Centre Trade Map 
database (SITC, Rev.3).  
  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
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  Table A1. 2 Destination of exports, 2012 -21 
(USD  million and  %)  
2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
World (USD  million)  114.2  48.7 20.8 96.8 88.0 199.9  54.9 125.2  41.0 58.0  
(Percentage share)  
America s 0.8 0.5 1.1 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.0 
United States  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 
Other - America s 0.7 0.4 1.0 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Europe  63.7 59.6 56.0 70.0 59.6 63.9 41.3 9.9 39.0 32.5 
EU-27 62.8 59.5 56.0 69.8 58.3 63.8 39.9 7.4 30.4 30.6 
Italy 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.8 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.2 14.9 
France  9.7 11.2 20.6 63.8 48.6 60.8 33.0 5.2 10.2 11.1 
Germany  7.3 14.7 33.0 3.7 3.7 1.2 3.2 1.4 2.5 3.3 
Spain  0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 
Denmark  0.1 0.2 0.6 0.3 0.8 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.5 
EFTA 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.3 1.3 0.1 1.4 2.4 8.6 1.8 
Switzerland  0.9 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.4 2.4 8.0 1.8 
Other  - Europe  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 
United Kingdom  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 
Türkiye  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)a 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 
Africa  8.7 7.0 2.1 21.2 24.4 15.6 22.5 72.5 25.3 11.1 
Mauritania  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.3 
Cameroon  2.1 1.1 0.9 8.4 8.4 0.7 13.1 2.2 4.0 2.5 
South Africa  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 
Congo  0.4 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.0 2.6 0.5 
Côte d'Ivoire  1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 1.4 0.5 
Tanzania  0.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 
Chad  2.5 4.8 0.1 11.6 0.9 4.5 0.2 0.0 2.9 0.1 
Gabon  0.9 0.1 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 
Senegal  0.1 0.1 0.8 0.4 0.6 0.1 0.5 70.2 0.1 0.1 
Middle East  10.2 12.9 0.8 0.1 0.8 2.7 17.3 8.5 24.4 47.9 
United Arab Emirates  10.1 12.6 0.8 0.1 0.8 2.3 16.4 7.5 24.3 47.6 
Asia 16.7 20.1 40.0 8.3 14.9 17.5 18.7 9.1 11.2 8.4 
China  13.8 18.7 37.7 6.9 10.4 6.9 12.7 5.9 6.9 6.2 
Japan  0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Other - Asia 2.8 1.3 2.0 1.3 4.4 10.5 6.0 3.1 4.3 2.2 
Viet Nam  0.4 0.8 1.9 1.2 3.5 2.0 4.2 1.7 2.7 1.8 
India  0.2 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.4 0.5 0.3 0.3 
Memo:            
CEMAC (WTO Members)  5.9 6.6 1.4 20.5 9.4 5.5 13.4 2.3 9.5 3.5 
EU-28 62.8 59.5 56.0 69.8 58.3 63.8 39.9 7.5 30.5 30.7 
a Commonwealth of Independent States, including certain associate and former member States.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data provided by the International Trade Centre Trade Map 
database.  
  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 356 - 
  Table A1. 3 Origin of imports, 2012 -21 
(USD  million and  %)  
2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
World (USD  million)  217.8  129.5  309.5  461.3  400.1  417.3  384.4  567.8  544.9  486.7   
(Percentage share)  
America s 10.8 17.3 10.9 13.3 12.5 6.2 4.7 25.0 4.5 5.0 
United States  3.7 9.8 9.4 12.2 9.9 3.4 3.5 24.0 3.6 3.8 
Other  - America s 7.0 7.4 1.5 1.1 2.6 2.8 1.2 0.9 0.9 1.2 
Brazil  5.0 4.8 0.8 0.6 1.8 1.9 0.8 0.5 0.5 0.9 
Europe  40.9 46.3 43.1 36.0 44.9 52.3 39.5 26.0 36.8 25.6 
EU-27 39.2 43.4 40.7 34.1 40.0 47.4 34.2 22.6 35.3 22.9 
France  25.2 24.7 21.5 21.0 21.1 26.1 17.2 11.8 14.0 10.0 
Belgium  3.8 2.3 9.4 3.3 1.9 8.1 2.2 3.9 7.1 3.8 
Denmark  0.7 3.2 2.6 1.9 2.0 0.8 2.1 1.3 2.7 2.7 
Netherlands  1.8 8.8 1.1 1.0 4.7 1.6 2.3 1.9 1.7 2.2 
Italy 2.8 1.9 4.0 5.0 7.1 2.8 3.6 1.2 5.1 1.5 
Germany  3.1 1.3 1.1 0.9 1.2 2.6 2.8 0.8 0.6 0.8 
EFTA 0.5 1.8 1.8 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 0.5 1.0 0.7 
Other - Europe  1.3 1.1 0.6 0.6 3.6 3.5 4.0 2.9 0.6 1.9 
United Kingdom  0.7 0.5 0.5 0.6 3.1 3.1 3.2 2.2 0.3 1.4 
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)a 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.4 
Africa  16.8 15.8 13.8 30.3 12.8 18.4 17.4 23.5 31.9 47.7 
Cameroon  7.0 6.3 6.1 6.5 4.9 12.1 8.1 19.0 26.2 34.4 
Nigeria  0.2 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.2 0.1 5.0 
Tunisia  0.3 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 2.4 
Zambia  0.0 0.0 0.0 9.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6 
Congo  0.2 0.2 0.7 0.5 0.1 0.9 1.7 0.8 0.6 0.9 
Middle East  3.1 2.6 2.7 2.4 2.6 3.1 2.6 1.9 1.8 2.5 
United Arab Emirates  1.8 1.5 1.2 1.2 1.4 2.0 2.4 1.5 1.5 1.6 
Asia 27.9 17.9 29.4 17.8 27.2 19.9 35.7 23.5 24.8 18.9 
China  11.4 6.9 8.3 6.6 8.9 6.6 11.8 18.2 17.1 10.5 
Japan  7.4 2.8 7.6 3.9 11.3 6.1 5.1 0.9 2.4 1.3 
Other - Asia 9.1 8.1 13.4 7.3 7.1 7.2 18.8 4.5 5.2 7.1 
India  5.8 4.3 3.0 2.9 3.6 2.0 7.1 3.0 3.4 4.8 
Other  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Memo:            
CEMAC (WTO Members)  9.8 9.4 7.5 7.4 5.1 13.1 10.2 19.8 29.7 35.6 
EU-28 39.9 43.8 41.2 34.7 43.1 50.6 37.4 24.8 35.5 24.3 
a Commonwealth of Independent States, including certain associate and former member States.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data provided by the International Trade Centre Trade Map 
database.   WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Central African Republic  
- 357 - 
  Table A1. 4 Structure of imports, 2012 -21 
(USD  million and  %)  
2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
World (USD  million)  217.8  129.5  309.5  461.3  400.1  417.3  384.4  567.8  544.9  486.7   
(Percentage share)  
Total primary products  34.1 39.3 28.2 16.9 17.8 23.5 27.8 32.5 30.6 28.9 
Agriculture  31.6 37.6 27.2 16.1 17.0 22.2 21.5 17.6 17.2 21.8 
Food products  29.6 36.0 26.4 15.4 16.5 21.1 20.6 16.7 16.4 20.6 
0989 - Food preparations, n.e.s.  1.0 1.6 2.0 2.1 2.5 1.5 3.6 2.7 2.1 2.5 
0423 - Rice, semi -milled, whether or 
not polished, glazed, parboiled or 
converted  0.8 2.6 3.6 3.0 1.5 1.6 1.9 0.9 2.0 2.5 
0123 - Meat and edible offal of poultry, 
fresh, chilled or frozen  0.4 0.4 0.7 0.4 0.4 0.9 1.4 1.1 1.2 1.3 
Agricultural raw materials  2.0 1.6 0.8 0.7 0.5 1.1 1.0 0.8 0.7 1.2 
Extractive industries  2.5 1.6 1.0 0.8 0.8 1.3 6.3 14.9 13.5 7.1 
Ores and other minerals  0.3 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.6 
Non-ferrous metals  0.7 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.4 
Fuels  1.5 0.7 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.8 5.8 14.1 13.0 6.1 
Manufactures  65.3 60.1 66.8 67.1 76.7 68.0 58.6 66.3 65.6 70.3 
Iron and steel  2.4 2.0 0.4 0.9 0.8 3.5 1.0 0.8 0.8 1.2 
Chemicals  12.4 24.4 17.8 9.2 13.2 10.8 7.5 15.8 12.8 12.4 
5429 - Medicaments, n.e.s.  6.3 15.4 13.8 5.6 7.8 5.3 4.2 10.6 5.6 6.8 
Other semi -manufactures  9.0 6.7 4.1 3.4 5.8 7.6 6.3 5.5 5.6 7.6 
6612 - Portland cement, aluminous 
cements, slag cement, super sulphate 
cement and similar hydraulic cements, 
whether or not coloured  2.5 1.9 0.3 0.5 0.7 1.5 1.0 1.0 1.6 2.0 
Machinery and transport equipment  34.7 19.0 29.5 37.1 44.7 35.7 35.5 34.5 32.6 29.8 
Power -generating machinery  2.1 0.9 0.8 1.4 0.7 3.7 2.1 1.0 2.6 1.6 
Other non -electrical machinery  7.7 5.0 2.3 10.1 4.4 6.3 5.1 3.5 4.0 3.5 
Agricultural machines and tractors  0.2 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 
Office machines and telecommunications 
equipment  7.1 5.3 6.6 6.7 8.6 3.8 3.9 5.6 5.8 14.4 
7642 - Microphones and stands 
therefor, loudspeakers, whether or not 
mounted in their enclosures  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 5.1 
7643 - Transmission apparatus for 
radio -telephony, radio -telegraphy, 
radio -broadcasting or television, etc.  0.6 1.0 2.5 0.4 0.8 0.3 0.5 2.1 2.1 4.1 
Other electrical machinery  2.9 2.4 1.1 12.1 2.2 3.2 3.6 4.7 4.0 5.3 
Automotive products  13.6 5.1 17.9 3.7 23.7 17.0 15.0 3.4 14.4 3.5 
Other transport equipment  1.2 0.4 0.8 3.2 5.1 1.6 5.9 16.3 1.8 1.4 
Textiles  1.0 1.7 5.1 2.0 0.7 3.0 1.0 1.7 2.9 3.3 
Clothing  0.3 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.8 0.7 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.6 
Other consumer goods  5.6 6.0 9.6 14.5 10.7 6.7 6.1 6.8 9.6 14.4 
8212 - Mattress supports; articles of 
bedding and similar furnishing (for 
example, mattresses, quilts, 
eiderdowns, cushions, pouffes and 
pillows)  0.1 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.5 0.8 0.1 0.2 2.6 
8110 - Prefabricated buildings  0.1 0.0 3.1 7.0 0.8 0.1 0.3 1.5 1.5 2.4 
Other  0.6 0.6 5.0 15.9 5.5 8.5 13.6 1.3 3.8 0.8 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data provided by the International Trade Centre Trade Map 
database (SITC, Rev.3).